A discussion with a woman I've named Ahem! who works at the fake Farmer's Market that I like to shop at for our weekly vegetables and meat.
Me: Do you like working here?
Ahem!: I don't know if I should say. What do you do?
Me: I am laid-off. Otherwise unemployed. A loser.
Ahem!: Oh, is it just you?
Me: No. Me, the dog, and my boyfriend.
Ahem!: Oh, so you don't have any children.
Me: No.
Ahem!: Hm. How old are you?
Me: How old are the red bell peppers you are trying to sell me? hm, no? Ok, I am 32.
Ahem!: You should have children. Before it's too late.
Me: I don't really want to have children. I might adopt one.
The whole time I am speaking, she gives me curious looks. Literally she is unsure of what I am. Am I from another planet? Why in the world does she not want to have children? I am uncomfortable with the silence and the curious looks coming from the other side of the register. And for some reason I feel the need to talk, a geyser of talking.
Me: Well, why would I want to make another one when there are SO many others out there that need to be loved, that need good homes, you know…all that.
Ahem!: <> you don't want to have it here?
I should mention that this is the International Farmer's Market and one of their "things" is that everyone that works there is bi or even tri-lingual. So there is an ever so slight (not really slight) language barrier here. Although I can see on Ahem!’s name tag that she does speak two other languages besides English. They are not languages that I am familiar with so I am unable to just switch over.
Ahem!: But they will take care of you. When you cannot afford things, they will help you.
I only tried to get her to talk because she looked miserable after the manager guy came over and gave her and the next cashier down a talking to about something that they are NOT supposed to do regardless of whether or not they have a customer with them.
Oye. That's what I get for actually trying to engage someone in a little friendly conversation.
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