u s e y o u r h a n d s

“What are the differences between Barilla and Creamette pasta?” she wondered, holding a box of each in her hand. In the end, Claudette went with Creamette, because even though Barilla sounded more Italian, the Price is Right always had Creamette products, and she still felt a fondness for the show even though Bob Barker sexually harassed the models. Claudette tossed the box into her cart and heard the undeniable sound of noodles breaking.

She took utter delight in the sound her heels made on the supermarket’s tile floor. Claudette altered her gait so instead of the one click, she produced two per stride. It took little effort to make her trips to the store enjoyable; Claudette often found herself staring at piles of green peppers when the day got too tough. It was a place just for her and Claudette almost seemed surprised when she encountered other carts during her late-night shopping treks.

The aisle was wide open ahead of her. Claudette progressed slowly, taking in each cereal box. Inevitably, she chose her usual box of Wheat Chex, nestling it next to the Creamette and her glass-containered milk. Sugar cereals were carefully lined up on the shelf beneath the healthy cereals. And between the Trix rabbitt and the Lucky Charms leprechaun, there, peering, judging, was Cap’n Crunch.

Earlier in the day, Claudette had had a run-in with a disturbed panhandler who chased her from her bus stop. More unnerving than his throwing a boot at her were his livid red eyes, round as half-dollars with tiny pupils. And now, looking into the Cap’n’s visage, it all came back to her, this thing she’d been trying to push out of her mind. Just like the panhandler, the Cap’n wanted something from her and she would not give it. And though she ran from the panhandler, Claudette stared back at the Cap’n.

Someone cleared their throat behind her. Claudette turned away from the Cap’n and moved her cart to clear a path for another shopper. When she turned back tot he Cap’n, she turned all of his boxes around.

Unrelated: I have “Radar Love” stuck in my head.