I hate to shop.  Usually I wait until our cupboards are almost bare before I go to the grocery store.  However, today I was next door to one to mail a package and decided to run into the store for a few items I knew we needed. 

     When I walked in the door, I suddenly realized I didn’t need to push one of those big carts around.  This store has those small two-tiered carts or the old plastic baskets you can carry over your arm.  I opted for the two-tiered cart.  I’ve never had a large cart that didn’t have some odd quirk like veering to one side or the other or it has a wheel that won’t turn.  The little cart moved along like an air hockey puck it was a dream come true.

     I picked up my few items and started for the checkout line.  The express line had one person while all the others had at least four people lined up all with fully loaded big carts.  A quick glance told me I was under the express line limit.  My heart skipped a beat.  I couldn’t believe my luck.  Then I waited.  I waited some more.  I saw a woman walk past I’d seen in one of the long lines.  I saw another one go by.  No, the person in front of me didn’t have thirty items.  He had fewer things than I did.  Finally, after watching a half dozen people go past with full carts, I paid for my items and headed out the door.

     Why do they put the slowest clerk in the store on the express line?