an unproductive weekend

Hastings employs weird people. As I was in the check out line there yesterday, the cashier said the usual "Hello, how are you," to me. Glad that he hadn't asked if I wanted to add popcorn to my purchase as he had to the two men in front of me in line, I said fine and asked how he was. He answered that he was alright, a little tired. Just alright, I asked? He said yes, because his toes hurt. He then stepped back from the counter and indicated his feet, so I leaned over to get a closer look.

"I had my toenails surgically removed, so they hurt." My face screwed up in confusion at to why I was looking at the holes caked with dry blood that once held his toenails. I asked why they were removed. "Well, they were ingrown for about 10 years, so it was about time." Good to know. He didn't appear to be that old, he might even be late teens or early 20's. He's just one of those guys who probably likes video games too much, and his large glasses were too close to his head. I asked if he was taking medicine for it and he said yes, but he wasn't looking forward to when the pain killers wore off. By then I had finished with my purchase and, after adding I hope he felt better, left.

Would it be such trouble for Abilene to perhaps add a Barnes & Noble or a Borders to its growing list of possible businesses on the north side? Then, perhaps, when I want to buy a book, I will buy it from someone who won't have me look at their toenailess feet. Still, characters like that help make the city what it is.

Stay classy, Abilene.