She waited there for a moment.
Just walk out and pretend that you belong, said her mother.
There were cars moving and feet walking. She took a deep breath and stepped out into the sunshine and was suddenly warm. She re-traced their steps back along the block. Individuals walked by, two's and threes. She watched them. Eye's down, smiles. Quiet conversations ebbing on. She bumped into a pair of legs which continued without noticing her. She took the left turn and crossed over to the store. She peered in. She could see three women and two men scrutinising the shelves. A man pawing a lettuce into his basket. At the counter, him, the storekeeper monologuing a phone. A few tufts of blackened hair to the top of his scalp and a whole bush under his shirt.
The girl walked into the shop and picked up a basket. His eyes were on her. She smiled back at him. He snorted and then returned to his soliloquy. The girl has this. That. Too much. Whatever she wants. She's fat on it
The girls eyes dropped and she passed through the first isle of produce. She took a plastic bag from the roller and placed in it six red apples. She bypassed the vegetables searching instead for bread which resided at the back of the store. She felt the man on her every move.
Yeah young. So what. You baby her. You see the harm. In the long run.
The bread stood in lines. She desired white but instead chose the thickly sliced brown warted with oatmeal, squeezing several loafs until she felt she had the freshest.
Put her on. I'll tell her what. Foot her down. I spiel her.
She picked some iced cakes. In full view of all en sundry, but especially him, she placed everything in the basket. Taking time over each selection. Weighing each item and taking double what she needed.
I'm not telling you again. Don't cry. How old are you? Dam teardrop. If I had a coin for every tear.
She found peanut butter and milk, taking a four pint carton and a two. The basket seemed full and with the milk it was becoming heavy. She found a bank of nappies.
Put her back on. Eyebrows raised in yawn to the woman waiting.
The girl was not sure which size her sister needed. Mini or max or minor. So decided that it was wise to choose the largest.
Every time she blubs. You cave in. What an example. Tell her no. What do you think we are made of money? When I get home.
Making sure that he could not see her she transferred half of everything into the back back. Spying him through a gap and his tuft lecturing with a classless bounce. And then up and down the isles picking anything and everything and placing it in the basket. She took her time, connoisseursing items carefully. A couple walked in. She felt that she was several feet taller and that every movement, no matter how small, was a giant caricature to the gallery. He was beginning to get agitated, why do you always phone me when I am at work. Never a moment. The girls ears began to burn.
Two women were now waiting, searing looks at the counter, the lack of pause in the tripping speech. He raised his hand to gesture, just a moment, one moment. Listen, I have to go. Do whatever. Why call when you don't listen.
The girl struggled with the heavy basket to the front of the store. The woman finally had had enough and told him to get on with it, that she didn't have all day.
Hey, he said with wide eyes.
Do you want me to pay for this?
I don't care what you do. And then to the phone, yeah, you heard.
Everyday, I come here.
What? Do you think I care?
She comes in here everyday.
And always the same. Never a word in edge ways. Ten years and this is how he speaks to me.
Let her have what she wants, I'm busy.
The girl stood by the door as the words erupted between the two women, the storekeeper and his wife at the other end of the phone. She put the basket down on the floor and began to walk out.
Where are you going?
She stopped, her chest became tight. She slowly turned to face him. Home.
What about all that stuff?
I don't want it.
What do you mean you don't want it.
I don't want it.
Leave the kid alone.
You're not going anywhere until you put all that back.
The voice in the phone started shouting.
Will you shut up, he screams into the phone. Put that stuff back you little-
The two women dropped their baskets. A box of eggs exploded.
You're going to pay for that. His wife's voice was yelling. Little finger long. Little finger long.
The two women laughed.
She was out. Long done. Turned right into the street her heart crashing at her rib cage. She walked a block not daring to look back, not wanting to walk too quickly but fearful of being slow. Crossing the road she looked left and saw that no-one was after her. She took a side street and began to run, dodging legs and taking another left. And then she stopped. Ahead of her was a patrol. Above there was a drone.