At the self checkout, the women began unloading their purchases.
Fiona had measuring cups, a ceramic rooster, an artificial palm tree, tuna, mayonnaise, crackers, olives, and a set of storage containers.
Sharon had her green blouse, a hat, kitchen towels, a candle, and a decorative pillow.
Suzy had red shoes, a serving platter, a new pepper grinder, and a bag of lemons.
Fiona studied Suzy’s purchases.
“You didn’t buy anything on your list.”
“I didn’t bring a list.”
“Then how did you know what to buy?”
“I recognized everything when I saw it.”
The checkout machine spoke.
“UNEXPECTED ITEM IN BAGGING AREA.”
All three women looked down.
Sharon lifted the decorative pillow.
“Is it talking about this?”
“PLEASE REMOVE UNEXPECTED ITEM.”
Suzy examined the pillow.
“Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting it either, but here we are.”
Fiona tried scanning the rooster.
“ITEM NOT RECOGNIZED.”
She scanned it again.
“ITEM NOT RECOGNIZED.”
Suzy leaned over the machine.
“It’s a rooster. You know, cock a doodle doo. Lives on a farm. Gets everybody up before they’re ready.”
“PLEASE WAIT FOR ASSISTANCE.”
Sharon laughed.
“You’ve offended it.”
“Good. It started it.”
An employee arrived, pressed two buttons, and restored the checkout.
“Anything else I can do for you ladies?”
Fiona smiled.
“Could you explain why the shelf lights keep blinking?”
The employee glanced at her phone.
“Oh, you still have the item locator running.”
Fiona looked down.
On her screen were thirty-seven selected products.
Sharon gasped.
"Thirty-seven!"
Suzy shook her head.
“Fiona, you’ve been conducting the entire store like an orchestra.”
The employee pressed a button.
The blinking stopped.
Fiona stared at the screen.
“That’s all I had to do?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sharon put a hand over her mouth.
Suzy looked at Fiona.
“Don’t feel bad. Not everybody gets to direct a Christmas light show in October.”
Can’t wait for the next scene? Join Themers free and read the whole episode of Theming Cafe, Season One, Episode Three: The Great Shopping Light Show, today.
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