A Meal

            “I would like ten cranberries,” he said wistfully.

            The cashier marched him to the fruit aisle, put ten shivering cranberries in his withered hand, and marched him back to the checkout.

            “And,” he added with a careful twist of his moustache, “four cucumbers.”

            She glared from under her visor.

            He began didactically and grew animated. “The cranberries for the juice, the cucumbers for the salad, eggs and ham and bread and cheese for my meal!” He finished triumphantly.

            The cashier groaned piteously. “Sir, if you’ll collect the items yourself – ”

            He fingered the cranberries and bellowed, “Well what about my meal?!”