i almost forgot to tell this story.
last night i was in the drugstore picking up my prescriptions when i noticed two young kids, late teens, kneeling in front of the pregnancy tests.
him: white suburban b-boy, hand on her back. her: tiny, midriff bare and eyes swollen.
they selected a ClearBlue Easy and left for the front of the store.
a couple of minutes later they came back and asked the pharmacist if they had a bathroom — specifically, a women’s room. the pharmacist told them they could go use Papa Gino’s next door.
as i waited, i noticed they didn’t leave right away. they went to the birthday cards section.
I was standing near there when the guy came up to me and asked if i knew if the store sold television stands. i told him i wasn’t sure but directed him to the sundries, notions, and seasonal crap aisle.
when he came back and said they didn’t, i decided to poke into the situation a little. “i don’t want to pry, but — you know, i couldn’t help noticing that you bought one of those” — gesturing at the box she was holding as she shrank into herself — “and were looking for a bathroom. you know you can’t use that at night?”
he seemed surprised. “you can’t?”
“no. you have to do it first thing in the morning, when she…goes for the first time.”
“oh. i didn’t know that. thank you! thank you!”
“no problem. and i hope you get whatever result you’re looking for.”
he laughed. she never said a word. or made a sound. or eye contact.
as i left, they were up front, returning the test.
what is there to say about this?
Dark Matter 