Silly Questions

I drive around an unfamiliar town, without map or electronic guidance, looking for an historic cemetery. I can’t find it so I stop into a Dollar Store to ask directions. I’ve never been inside a Dollar Store before. It’s Sunday morning and few shoppers are to be seen. A young clerk stands behind the counter waiting for something to do. I take my question to her. “Do you sell maps here?”

The look on her face says she’s never been asked such a thing before. It also tells me they don’t sell maps here. So I ask another question: “Do you know where the historic cemetery is?” This does nothing to allay the dismayed look on her face. I’m about to say thanks anyway when I’m nudged from behind.

I turn to see it’s an elderly lady with a shopping cart. In her cart are two boxes of Eggo frozen waffles. Nothing else. She’s bumping the cart into me to say get out of the way. I do and she moves forward with her cart. I consider asking her if she knows where the historic cemetery is.

Before that can happen she says: “Young man, help me with these.” She points to the frozen waffles. I’m not so young but I reach into the cart and pick up the two boxes. They feel very cold. I place them on the checkout counter and look back at her to see if there’s anything else. Apparently not.

I depart without further ado and find the cemetery on my own.