Dinner Hour
by maxClimb
Scene: Longish line of people at a grocery check-out. A young couple with a hand basket of items are one customer back from the front of the line. She's ahead, turned toward He a bit.
He: So then the next slide is that 'snake eating its tail' thing, the Oro-Barrosa - always creeps me out.
She: The '
Ouroboros'.
He: Whatever. Scarfing till it's just a dot of a head. Yuck.
She: There's more to it than that...
He: I mean, it would hurt! It's self-destructive!
She: What'd he say about it?
He: Oh... ancient symbol... self-consuming lust... gateway to the next world. Usual mumbo-jumbo.
(nods toward counter) We're up.
She: (unloading basket) It's
eternity - like the snake doesn't just chomp away blindly...
He: I'm gonna chomp away tonight - I'm starved! What's cookin', anyway?
She: (Holds up flat ovoid pack containing a large sausage, one end nearly touching the other) Kielbasa and Red Cabbage, old family recipe.
He: God!
It's everywhere!
She: Wha...?
(looks at sausage pack, tosses it on counter) Oh. It isn't circular, and there's no head, silly. And I'm counting on
leftovers, so restrain yourself.
He: Don't worry!
She: So anyway, the snake only takes a little bite, digests it and makes more snake - that's the positive view. The world creating itself, from itself.
He: (with dry sarcasm) Gee Professor!
(dismissively) Makes no sense to me.
(to Clerk) Yo dude, 'sup?
Clerk: Hey man. Off tonight?
(rings up groceries)
He: Yeah. I got
can alley in the AM, then Express Line till noon.
Clerk: Killer. I got
graves all next week.
He: Enough in there for my paycheck?
(endorses check and hands it to clerk)
Clerk: (smirking) Enough for what YOU get.
He: Keeps us going.
She: (smiles wanly) Income just meets outgo.
Clerk: Never any different. Here's your change.
He: (pockets bills, He and She pick up bags) Thanks, bro! Laters.
(They walk a couple of steps)
She: I just remembered! We're outta'
TP!
He: Shit! I guess we'll have to get back in line...
(blackout)