did you find everything you were looking for

did you find everything you
were looking
for,
the cashier says mindlessly,
as she bags my groceries,

glancing at her
watch, hoping it will tick
faster.

no.

I tell her.
she looks at me, stunned that
i'm not following script.

I couldn't find the black olives
I tell her.
I looked everywhere.

oh, she says.

well, you've
earned eleven bonus point dollars.

she circles my receipt and hands
it to me.

what about the black olives, I
ask her.

she shrugs and smiles. beats me,
she says. guess you should have
kept looking.

next.