you must remember to get the napkins
you say as I climb out of the car
but I already know that
because otherwise the ketchup will go everywhere
and burger juice will drip through our fingers
and what else do you expect to serve birthday cake with
they will be used as plates
although that’s bad for the environment
but they’ll keep the important things clean at least
I already packed everything else
all we need is extra bits and bobs
maybe some more suncream
and the napkins
the supermarket is loud
busy
it seems like everyone is going to the beach today
there are no portable barbecues left
or bags of ice
there is a kid begging for a bucket and spade
and for a rubber ring so they can go swimming
its mum is on the phone with someone
trying to co-ordinate travel arrangements
whilst navigating their trolley through the aisles
I see a teenager staring longingly at a crate of beer
maybe it was lager
I don’t know
you’re the one who knows the difference between them
but you’re in the car
napkins
I grab some peach squash
and a picnic blanket because it’s on offer
the tannoy sounds overhead
someone called Sarah is needed at the tills
mums and their trollies begin to flock around the reduced section
I feel bad for the boy stocking it
he barely puts down that pizza and it’s already gone
another child starts screaming a couple of aisles over
it’s loud
and it’s about jam
I love jam
the only downside to it is that it’s sticky
and it’s hard to clean off your fingers
napkins
I move to find where they are hiding when I see a sign
your face cream is on offer
2 – 4 – 1
I pop it in the basket
is it the right one
I feel silly asking
I watch you put it on every night I should know by now
it looks like the right size tube
two kids come zooming past me
I nearly knock the display over
the hairs on my legs are on end now
it’s chilly
it’s cooler than being outside though
the sun is burning the grass
but I have my suncream on so I should be okay
I’m waiting in line to pay for the bits and bobs
a baby in the trolley in front is staring at me
I stare back
the mum gives me a funny look
I stick my tongue out at the baby
it laughs
beep beep beep
the scanner is loud
another tannoy announcement
Sarah is still needed at the tills
I wonder where she is
she could be smoking a fag out front
I don’t need a bag today
the escalator woman tells me to hold the hand rail
I don’t
I’m a rebel
I put the bags in the boot
you push my door open from the inside and give me a big grin
music blares from the speakers once the key is turned
take off the handbrake and we are on our way
about 10 minutes in my heart drops
I forgot the napkins.
Photo courtesy of Nathalia Rosa
