Odd experience shopping tonight...

[mapsedge]

Wasn't going to write about this tonight, but it's just got me going. The short version goes like this: a normal night grocery shopping, coming off a pleasant dinner with my family. We're cruising the grocery store with an elderly couple, a single mom and her son, couple of Asian guys in suits. Nobody really catches my attention. We finish up in the produce section, and turn the corner.

Another Asian guy in a suit. Now, I'm not, generally speaking, a racist, but Independence doesn't have a large Asian community, so him I notice. It occurs to me that maybe he's with the other two, but nobody's pushing a cart.

I'm naturally suspicious. Three guys, same ethic group, meandering, no carts. Not exactly something you could succeed with in front of a jury, and I know that, thanks. I joke to M, "Chinese mafia's out shopping."

We turn the corner. At the end of the aisle, a fourth Asian male in a suit. Okay, I think, trying not to let my suspicion get the better of me, they're hanging out while the wives get the shopping done.

We turn the corner. Nobody in this aisle, but the front door is visible, and there's yet another Asian guy standing in front of the door.

By the time we'd reached the dairy section, I'd figured out where they all were: one by the entrance, one just outside the exit. Three hovering, spread out, in the back half of the store; three, same arrangement in the front of the store; all spaced so each one can watch two aisles. Not one shopping cart, but they're all taking pains to look like they're shopping; couple of them are even carrying something; one had a deck of cards from the impulse shelves by the registers, one had a can of green beans.

I turn to M. "We're done." To the checkout, and a brainstorm. I ask the cashier, "Is this place under new management?" No, he says. (So much for the brainstorm.) "Well, you've got a group of guys pretending to shop." I know. "Asian guys, in suits." Yeah, I saw them: Loss Prevention already knows.

Well, damn I hope so. Probably just paranoid, but I'll be watching the news.

Comments

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, yeah, that set off my 'Spidey sense' too. Remind me to tell you sometime about my wrong number kidnapping call sometime.

[dormer.livejournal.com]

good call. That's what I was thinking when I read this.

[purpledumbass.livejournal.com]

:-) Does this mean that work thought patterns are pretty much S.O.P., even when not on duty? I was thinkin' along the same lines... Except for the fact that they weren't 15-year-olds carrying a backpack...

Geez. I need a vacation.

[dormer.livejournal.com]

yes, I would agree that "sense" doesn't end when you hit the door out to your car at night. I was out shopping with my mother and had just walked into a Dillards when I caught a glimpse of a guy hovering near the doors with an armload of dresses. I stared him down and flagged over a salesperson, telling her she was about to have a grab n' run, go get security. She took off and so did the guy, after cursing me out. :) I had to go find Mom, who by this point had faded away into the store, avoiding what she thought was going to be a confrontation with me and the guy.

[fantomas71.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great opening for a Lovecraftian short story. You get trapped in there as they try to save money on a sacrifice by tossing butcher-fresh meat to something they summon in Produce.

oh I love it...

[themadblonde]

sitting here giggling, visions of "Night Stalker" dancing through my brain. ;-)

Re: oh I love it...

[fantomas71.livejournal.com]

If I were running it as a Cthulhu game, the cultists would be foul Tcho-Tcho, and the players would have to improvise weapons while avoiding being killed.

my first choice...

[themadblonde]

progresso soup cans & flaming wesson oil.

Re: my first choice...

[fantomas71.livejournal.com]

(putting myself in that space for a moment)

I think I barricade behind the deli counter and make use of their supplies. Probably a lot of sharp things and flammable cleaning supplies. If offensive action is necessary, I create a hellish diversion by pushing whole racks of shit over.

I dunno...

[themadblonde]

deli counter is mostly glass on top, lousy if it crashes down on you & fairly short afterward. Also, what if the critter they summon is attracted to meat? I'd try for the refrigerated section behind the milk aisle. There are usually wonderful big rolling carts of milk jugs & a back loading door. I wonder if aerosole whipping cream is flamable...?