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The Jar of Choconutty Spread.

     Valentine's day is one of those days in the year that
you either love or hate. I, personally, am indifferent towards
it. It was in the run up to valentine's day this year that I was
in Debenhams looking for a shirt. As I walked in I noticed a
table set up in one of the aisles. Upon the table there was a
carefully assembled stack of jars. Each jar had a little wooden
brush lovingly strapped to it with red tape. 
     CHOCOLATE SPREAD. (& applying brush) it
declared on a banner above the table, which was embellished
with little red hearts. Who said the romance had left valentines
day? People were looking inquisitively at the table but there
was a self-conscious barrier which seemed to prevent people
from actually going anywhere near it. Blokes were walking
through the lingerie department to avoid having to walk past
it.
     I found the shirt rack and set about trying to find a
cheap, durable, single colour shirt. There was a rather tasteful
looking mustard yellow one which they had in my size. Not in
the mood to find the changing rooms I slipped my shirt off and
put the yellow one on. It looked much bigger on me than it
had done on the hanger. Oh well, no harm in trying I suppose.
I swapped shirts again and put the yellow one back on the
peg. It looked slightly ruffled. I walked off before someone
could blame me for it.
     
     I found a light green shirt in the style I usually went for
and tried that on (in the changing room this time). This fitted
better, and it was in the sale so I took it up to the queue for
the till. Working there were two young blokes, both busy
folding and checking credit cards and offering discount points.
Standing just in front of me was a young girl who must've
been about sixteen or seventeen. She had her brown hair cut
into a bob, and in her hand she gripped tightly to a little jar
with a brush taped to it. She looked about nervously. I smiled.
She didn't notice.
     Behind the till one of the lads was just going off for a
tea break. One of the Saturday staff came along to work the
till as it was the weekend and the shop was busy. The new
assistant was a young man of around seventeen. His hair was
mousy coloured and cropped short so that it stood on end. He
wore black rimmed glasses that either weighed heavy on his
neck or were just emphasised by his stoop. He looked
uncomfortable in his nylon uniform and black tie. He looked
uncomfortable when he saw the young girl. Then he smiled.
     "Katie! I haven't seen you in a while, what have you
been up to?"
     The girl looked up sharply, then looked down,
embarrassed.
     "Hi Dave." she said blushing, "This and that. I'm
working at Woolies during the week now."
     Dave started to deal with the woman standing in front
of the girl in the queue.
     "I only work here at the weekends," he said "I'm
doing my A-levels, the place doesn't seem quite the same
without all the old gang around."
     "Oh." she sighed.
     The other till was now free. She asked him how a
brace of their old friends were and put the jar on the counter
with one fluid movement.
     He smiled.
     I tried hard not to laugh.
     So did he, as he told her how they were all doing.

     "I'll see you around then." she said.
     The jar was now safely hidden in a plastic bag where
it sat neatly next to the receipt. She picked up the bag and
walked out of the store. She didn't acknowledge the laughing
that followed as she walked out.
     I bought my shirt and then walked slowly to The
Coffee Pot. When I got there, Judith was waiting, looking at
her watch and tutting.
     "You wouldn't believe.................

©1998 Mark Sexton