Chocolate

Supermarket checkout line, trouble ahead, lady’s card declined, she fishes through her purse for another. I wheel my cart around and make a break for a faster line. Another guy is headed for the same line. I pretend not to see him. That was wrong and I say something lame, “Go ahead.” He says, “No, man, we’re good.” No eye contact. I’m unhappy with me. I unload my cart, add a small, fancy chocolate bar to the pile and pay the cashier. Ready to go, I turn and hand the man the chocolate, “A gift for someone you care about.”