Yet another weird experience in this Twilight Zone of a gas station/convenience store …read more...
I stopped here Friday afternoon to get a Red Bull, only because I was driving right by there. The SECOND that I entered the door, the over-enthusiastic girl behind the Subway counter to the left greeted me ... even though I was walking in the opposite direction toward the convenience store counter. Ok, whatever. She's probably bored. I can't imagine that this Subway-in-a-gas-station sees much biz.
After I got my Red Bull from the cooler, I approached the checkout counter, where it got even weirder. A very elderly woman, who had to be pushing, if not over, 90 years old, was sitting on a chair in front of the checkout counter, holding a piece of paper to her forehead, scunching her eyes. I wasn't sure if she: a) Was about to tell someone's fortune; b) Had a migraine headache; or c) Was doing her best Karnac the Magnificent impression (a recurring skit on the late Johnny Carson show, may you rest in peace, Johnny). Then, I turned around to look at a high-mounted Keno flat-screen display and realized she was probably trying to ascertain her lottery numbers.
There were two people at the register. I wasn't sure if they were: a) husband and wife; b) mother and son; c) brother and sister; or d) none of the above. After I handed them money for my purchase, both of them participated in getting my change. Perhaps she was training him on how to use the register or something. The dude, who appeared to be of Middle Eastern or perhaps Indian descent, awkwardly handed me my change. He could barely speak English, and what little he did speak was largely unintelligible, almost like grunting. And his halitosis nearly knocked me over. Folks, if you work with the public, kindly practice proper hygiene, please.
As I went to leave (not soon enough), I pushed on the right door, which didn't budge, and the Subway girl flashed a pseudo-helpful smile and said, "Other door!" (No shit, I thought to myself.) She clearly doesn't get much human interaction ... she reminded me of a spider, waiting in a web, for any form of life to fly or walk into her little corner of the world.