Everybody Loves Trader Joe's - Jean Wong

[Larry Robinson]

Everybody Loves Trader Joe's


Lost My Job
3 Children
Please Help

He saw the sign,
the woman's face blocked
 by a scarf.
He parked, five dollars in hand,
 locked the car, walked a few steps,
returned, looked in the glove compartment.
Maybe he had a ten—no, just a twenty...too much.
He shopped at Trader Joe's to save money.
Gave her the bill, said “good luck.”
“God Bless You,” she said.
She looked foreign...from India, Pakistan, 
like a gypsy or something.
Actually he didn't want to get blessed.
He went through TJ's— rye bread, bananas, butter, milk, eggs, frozen peas, frozen chicken breast, cottage cheese, almonds.
That was it.
But if he wanted, he could get anything. 
Heading back to his car, he passed her again.
He caught her eye.
She gave a slight nod, a certain elegance, a grace.

somehow
he felt diminished


	- Jean Wong