Shopping Day

Shopping Day

By Paul McCann

 

Mr Fingerton had been depressed for a while and when he felt like that , going shopping was good therapy for him . His life as a schoolteacher kept him busy but on school holidays, he found he had little to occupy him . He never realised how much his career impacted his life until he wasn’t involved with his classwork and everyday interaction with those around him . Even though he lived a lonely life , he needed people around him to prove that he was somehow useful to others .

He had tried joining social clubs and that didn’t work for him then he got involved with a church group but again he couldn’t fit in .

What he did enjoy was his trips into the city to go bargain hunting and even the regular grocery shopping was an escape for him .

Even though he had no one to but his mother who cared for him Mr Fingerton still enjoyed being in the company of others , even if it was just walking around a shopping mall or in a supermarket . .
He liked to get the odd smile of a hello from someone at the checkout or customer service . Being with other people he never knew always felt good . Then of course there were the other people who he would often see who walked into his life , those unseen strangers that no one else could see . Although he felt privileged to be able to see them, he wished he could share that with people but in reality, he knew he never could because they might think he was a bit weird .

It was a windy winter morning and he made his way to the supermarket and as always, he parked his car as close to the entrance door as possible before going into  the shopping centre . He was able get a shopping trolley which made him happy because at times they were not all that many available because many were left in  out of the way places .

As he made his way to the store , he saw a farmer walking with a cow through the carpark . Then as a car drove through them, he realised it was just another vison of the unseen that he had saw . 

In he went to the supermarket without a shopping list . He loved to go impulse buying and just grabbing what ever caught his fancy from the shelves and then stacking them up in his shopping trolley . When his trolley was almost full, he made his way to the checkout where a young lady waited with a friendly smile . He preferred to go to real people and not the automatic checkout machines .

“Good morning and how are you today ?“

He said to the girl  .

The shop assistant smiled but never responded , Mr Fingerton  continued to be friendly and said ,

“It’s not too busy this morning ?

The supervisor on duty approached him and smile saying .

“This checkout isn’t open yet sir Would you like to use another one . The one at number 6 has no one waiting “

Mt Fingerton looked again and saw there was no one standing there at the checkout The girl he had seen was gone . He blushed and attempted to make a funny remark to cover himself and said ,to the supervisor ,

“I’m always talking to myself these days you know. “

The supervisor just smiled.

Mr Fingerton walked away towards the other checkout .

Already that was had been his second vison which was a little unusual to have them so close together  When he got to the checkout the girl said

“Good morning , can I get you a bag ?”

The question fell on deaf ears for a moment as just then he saw an unshaven and rough looking customer running away through the checkouts with some groceries in his hands .

The girl at the checkout never seemed bothered and Mr Fingerton asked ,

‘

“Did you see that ?”

 

She replied ,

“We get a lot of shoplifters these days . We can’t do anything about that . Our supervisors have told us not to get involved and to just keep working . We have  CCTV that might identify who they are but some of them are homeless and hungry so we just let it go. “

He looked at the checkout operator as she started to scan through the items he took from the trolley and then said ,

,“Oh yes , I need some plastic bags , if you would be so kind . Tell you what . If only the government could provide food and shelter for the homeless this kind of thing wouldn’t happen . “

The checkout girl replied ,

“ Of course , but then where does it end . If the government did that then , they would have to deliver the groceries and then there would be other things like maintaining that houses and providing clothing . In the end some people would just abuse the system and not go looking for a job because things would be provided for them “

He replied.

“I guess , you’re right . I see your point”.

One by one the girl at the till proceeded to ring up each item and place them all into plastic carry bags. .  The girl was very fast at the checkout was it didn’t take her long to have everything packed  . There were a few now lining up waiting to be served next at the checkout .. Mr Fingerton thanked the girl and paid cash for his shopping and said goodbye .

“Thank you for shopping at our store sir . Have a nice day . ”

The girl replied.

Mr Fingerton was already feeling better psychologically because of the interaction with the girl and also because he was able to see how lucky he was not to be hungry or homeless and even grateful for having a job that gave him the ability to pay for his groceries and the comfortable life that he had .

As he pushed his shopping trolley with all his groceries back to his car he noticed the homeless man , sitting in a corner in the car park eating some of the things he had stolen and went over and reached him some money .

The homeless man was very happy and gave Mr Fingerton a hug for being so kind .

After putting his groceries into the boot of his car , he decided he would go to the markets in search of some bargains .

When he arrived at the markets, he parked his car and proceeded to make his way to the entrance .  He loved wandering through the stalls looking at all the different items on display . He had a good eye for a bargain and was in his element when he bartered and haggled over the price . The market was in the heart of the city and quite busy most of the time .

As he was browsing through some old coins the man at the stall said ,

“:Good morning . Is there anything in particular you’re looking for ?

Mr Fingerton said.

“I’m looking for something unique . “

The stall holder replied ,  

“Well, you’ve come to the right place , there must be something here that you’ve never seen before  .“

He wandered around as if in a trance and bought a pair of soft shoes and a belt . Then he walked quietly over to a stall that sold plants and garden statues ..

He moved around checking through the trash and treasure , opening books and looking at artworks . In his mind Mr Fingerton was taken away into another world for a while / It was just like someone had opened up a door on the other side of life and let him step inside to a lift that transported him on to a  spongy cloud that drifted beyond and took him along a road where he had never been before .   

Up above in a plastic sky there he saw spiral sunbeams in colours that fell around him and then he saw a place where it fell to the ground on a street where people met and lovers slept and in that world he saw hurt of the faces of those who kept  secrets and could not stop the tears that fell like frozen drops of rain upon their face . There were others there he saw who stole smiles and kisses and ran away to hide inside homes from another time and place . He felt the sorrows that swept up sighs from empty hearts and he heard their sad stories that crept among the dark clouds that blew away across the bridge where twisted vines of pink and gold flowers scattered themselves upon roads that went back to yesterday . He stood there and wondered.  

could these things ever happen again , but no one answered . everything just remained the same . Clouds that were full of rain , gardens that burnt with fires and winds that blew between two worlds trying to bring an echo to show the way , or give  courage for the broken hearted in a place where time stands still and for those who are brave enough to follow their dream , heaven is not that far away .

Mr Fingerton stood there watching a dream that seemed to be happening there in the markets  where he stood and walked among the stalls filled with lots of bits and pieces , old paintings in gold frames and delicate ornaments with fancy names that explained why they were so expensive , There were animals made of brass , trays made of silver and ear rings made of gold . He smelt food and looked over at a mobile van where a man-made sandwiches and cups of tea or coffee . 

Beside the food stall he saw a man playing a fiddle who was there one minute and then the next minute  he disappeared .

He went over and sat down at one of the café tables to enjoy his lunch .

Opposite him was a tent with a fortune teller and after he finished his lunch, he went over to see what she could tell him about his future .  As soon as he went over, she immediately said ,

“You have been gifted with visions . Those who allow you to see them want me to tell you , they miss you from the other side and you have their protections always . You are very lucky to have the gift to see what no one can and so you will also be able to do things no one else can  That’s what I need to tell you . your life is a unique story and you will go to places where you can see those who once lived there and briefly understand the lives they had . Their stories you can share with others wherever you go and in doing that they will live again for a brief moment in time “

 

Mr Fingerton heard music outside that drew him out like a magnet . There were talented musicians all walking in a parade playing a variety of instruments . Some had pipes and played softly with their fingertips gliding over the holes of the chanter and squeeze out the sounds of magic . When he played his  music, the fairies danced as they squeezed out tunes from another time  .Then there were those with accordions and banjos  , all playing together . The parade passed him by slowly and then they all disappeared as if into thin air . He felt a sensation of peace come over him and in his head the music they played still echoed over and over . The fortune teller came out from her tent and he nodded his head and said ,

‘‘So, then no one else saw or heard what I just did ?”

The fortune teller replied ,

“Whatever you saw and heard was meant just for you “

Then he spoke softly to her  .

‘:Well, you know my mother told me when I was a child, she knew I could see things and she often realised that  something special was happening in my life . She used to say that I was living between two worlds . Reality and mystery and it were my decision to choose one I which was comfortable with  . All she ever said was for me to enjoy every moment of both worlds. “

A strong breeze arrived and tossed some things in the air . Paper cups and plates went scurrying all around the ground . The day was getting away and some of the   people who had come to the markets sat around on blankets telling stories and sharing jokes . Every seemed happy and laughter was in the air .

Some families had a picnic and then wandered around the stalls .

Mr Fingerton stood there watching everything passing by like he was watching a movie or in the middle of a dream . He was just there caught up in the middle of this picture show of life passing by . He wondered for a while if anyone there had even noticed him standing there .

Then as the day faded into twilight he returned to his car and drove home with the things he had bought .

 

The End