The lowly convenience store…without doubt, it’s a staple in many inner-city neighborhoods.  Truth be told, though, they’re often not very convenient; and that’s mostly because the goods are overpriced…generally hiked way up; and partly because at night, most of them are manned by one or two individuals, making these establishments a magnet for all sorts of bizarre activities…criminal and otherwise.  Yea…whoever said it was 100% correct…the freaks “do” come out at night!

Let me share this little tale with you guys so that you’ll understand where I’m coming from.  Years ago, as a young energetic sprite, I worked on the night shift as a Health Aide at an institution I will not name.  Routinely, just before going to work, I’d walk into a particular convenience store…pick up an item such as gum…candy…whatever…anything just to get change for the bus.  Then, in order to pay, I’d fling the chosen item on the counter… one to two seconds later, I’d fling the bill.  The clerk, sensing my resentment and attitude, would in turn fling the change back. Without a doubt, having to pay a dollar for a pack of …whatever…that should really have cost twenty-five cents fueled my resentment; but what got me even more pissed was the fact that this clerk…someone I’d see almost nightly, always refused to change my bills, unless, of course, I bought something from the store.  So that was the extent of our interactions…night in and night out.

One particular night started out no differently.  I’d run into the store to buy…God knows what…don’t remember now; this occurred years and years ago.  But…what I do clearly remember is that in order to pay for the item, I formed a line with, at least, five to six people ahead of me. We’d all been on line for approximately twenty to thirty seconds, when suddenly…out of nowhere…a desperate-looking man came dashing through the glass door and jumped the line with such an attitude of defiance that no one dared challenge him.