THE GROCERY SHOP

Ever feel that creeping sensation of awkwardness that starts at the back of your neck and moves to your scalp ? Especially when you are trying to avoid some awkwardness.

I live in a small 2 bedroom apartment just off the main road. At the corner is a grocery shop called "Good Luck Shop". This was both ironic and funny to me, as the owner of "Good Luck" had extended some credit to me and I has now run up a tidy little sum. I really thought about the Luck angle, but couldnt see much.

It has been over 3 weeks that I had assured him I'd pay, but now he was beginning to send his shop assistant up to the house every evening by 7, when he knew I'd be home.

This day was no different as I was walked hurriedly past, with the hope that he wouldnt notice me, yet trying to keep my stride confident and brisk, so as not to appear like I was avoiding him.

He looked up, saw me, smiled thinly and waved. As if to say - " I know its you. And I know you know."
I felt like I was party to a secret deal that was so terrible it had to remain unspoken. I shuddered as I climbed the steps.

"Tomorrow" I thought, "I WILL deal with this. "

But once I was home, the kids almost jumped on me. They were hiding behind the fridge and wanted to surprise me. And surprise they did....

In the living room about 15 kids, sitting sprawled all around, books all over the place.

This was a so called "study party".
I now had to cook and feed this motley bunch, just when I was so tired and wanted to lie down for about half an hour.
I sighed and smiled...... I knew inside the kitchen, all I had was a few packs of Instant Noodles. Oh the oblivious bliss of youth.


.