Closing
Time
I studied the shelves at the grocery store. I needed fish, so I stopped
at the fish department. There were several species available so, after
some contemplation, I took a trout, smoked herring, and a few hundred
grams of fresh whitebait.
Satisfied
with the contents of my shopping cart, I felt completely at ease.
The store had such a peaceful atmosphere, with not so many customers,
that my eye lids were beginning to feel heavy. I didn't feel like
moving anywhere, so I fell asleep.
I
don't know how long I had slept, but I woke up when the lights were
being switched off. Vendors were cleaning the place. The shelves were
emptied and machines shut down for the night. I was the only customer
left. The shopping cart still in my arms, I rushed to the nearest
cash desk.
But
there were no cashiers at the desk. Nevertheless, I put the fish on
the counter and asked the nearest employee whether I could pay? The
seller hesitated and asked for another employee. Soon he came back
and said, 'We have closed for today. No need to pay. Just take the
fish that you want, and leave the rest here in the bin.' I took all
the fish.
At
home the floor was flooded with water. Apparently my parents had just
finished cleaning. I walked carefully so as not to wet my socks. Then
I decided to take the fish with me and jumped on a bus.
The
bus was about to leave towards northern Finland in Oulu. There were
not too many passengers on board. For snacks I had a bag full of fish.