Top Ramen - Humiliation Flavor

Waiting in a long checkout line at a local store, I observe a young man with his arms full, dropping a few more things while bending down to pick up something he had already dropped. Judging from his matted hair and unkempt attire, I would say he’s a little down on his luck. Then, noticing what he’s hugging closely in his arms are a dozen or more loose packs of assorted flavored Ramen noodles, I’m convinced. It's like watching a flashback from my college days. I couldn't help but smile.

Understandably, he's nervous and self conscious. I imagine that the comments coming from a few insensitive butt holes ahead of me in line, is not helping his situation. Appears he can’t decide which line to choose – regular or self checkout. I’m sure he’s already feeling embarrassed enough, and now after hearing the rude remarks, he opts to go through the less judgmental, more tolerant self check out – or so, one might imagine.

As more people begin taking an interest, the nervously clumsy boy scans his items one by one, pausing only to place the scanned item in the bag and scan another. I’m sure it’s beginning to feel like an eternity to him. Other shoppers now laugh, as the robotic voice at the self checkout repeats much too loudly to the whole world:

“Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents… Thirty nine cents…”

~g