Tomorrow is the deadline for applying to SDSU, and like always, I put this off until the last minute. You would think that being in the 21st century, this kind of thing would be done on the computer and through the internet, but no. That’s why I had to overnight it to the administrations office. Normally I would’ve skated to the post office— it’s not very far— but I have a bum ankle, so I had to take an Uber instead. While I was in the shopping center I went down to CVS to buy some supplies for the new job I was starting that night. I’m happy I put these errands off until last minute, because if I didn’t, I would have never met Margaret on aisle 12.
I’ve been to this store quite a few times so I go straight to the aisle with the pens and notebooks and those type of things. Right in front of where I need to grab my stuff, there is this older lady with a weathered face. She could have been 55, she could’ve been 70, who knows? She also looked kinda weird like a cat lady who might’ve hoarded hamsters instead of cats. Her salt and pepper hair was messy and done up in side pony tiles, like a freshman cheerleader, strips go glittery tinsel and all. She was looking at big pink binder and talking to herself when she dropped something from her hand. It was a small box of Good and Plenty (those pink and white licorice candies). I go to pick them up for her, and as I hand her the little candy box, she says, as if we were life long friends, “So do you like Good and Plenty’s?”
“To be honest,” I said, “I don’t think I’ve had Good and Plenty’s in over 15 years.”
“They’re the best,” she explained. “And right now they’re on sale. Three for one. You should get some.”
“Maybe I will,” I told her.
That’s when she hands me the pink binder she was looking at and asks. “Can you find a price on this thing anywhere?”
I take a look and say no.
“My eyes aren’t real good. Do you see this black eye?” she asked.
It looked ok to me, but I wasn’t going to say no, so I say. “Yeah it looks a little bruised.”
“I got shot in the eye not too long ago. In order to fix it, the doctor had to a camera through my mouth and up into my eye.”
“Wow. That’s pretty crazy,” I told her, not totally buying her story but liking her nonetheless, and we shared a couple more pleasantries before I grabbed what I needed. While I’m waiting for the cash register who isn’t in sight, the lady from just then walks up behind me and puts her Good and Plenty’s on the conveyer belt. When the cashier shows up, she starts to ring up my stuff and asks, “So do you wait tables?”
“I do,” I said. “It’s my first night. At this place called Starving Artist.”
The lady behind me chimes in. “You don’t say,” she says, “Starving Artist, you said? Well then, I know where I’m having dinner tonight.”
It’s Valentine’s day mind you, which was like the cherry on top to make this all a little weirder.
“What’s your name, honey?” she asks.
“Matt,” I say.
“Well, Matt. I guess I’ll see you tonight. I hope you don’t mind widows,” she says then looks over at the cashier like they might have been long time friends too. “She’s a widow too.”
I ask her her name and she tells me it’s Margaret.
“Well, it was very nice to met you Margaret,” I tell her.
And right before I take my stuff and say goodbye to the ladies, Margaret stops me and says, “Hey. It looks like you never got your Good and Plenty’s.” She turns to the cashier and says, “Is it ok if I give him one of these now and you could put it on my bill?”
She said sure and Margaret hands me a little box of Good and Plenty’s. “Happy Valentines day, Sweetie,” she says. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Well I waited all night for Margaret. I even told my coworkers about her and that crazy occurrence. Unfortunately she never came in, although I kinda hoped she did, but there on my counter is still my little box of Good and Plenty’s that are a better keep sake than a treat.