Possibility (580 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1.95 on 17 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by The Yellow Dart (View user info) at 2006-08-06 14:08:05 EDT
Apparently I'm the only person in this place that finds some sort of significance in choice. Everyone else casually strolls along in this choice-emporium with nothing on their minds but their needs, their wants, and the choices required to fulfill them.
The grocery store is a marvellous place. It is pathetic, sickening, and ultimately important for the well being of everyone in society, including the stumpy, just-over-the-hill woman who appears to have an unhealthy attraction to stocks of food and the choices they afford (judging by the smug look plastered to her face, of course; one shouldn't assume her vast mass wasn't "genetic" or a childhood glitch) who has just rounded into the isle in which I am currently pondering.
She waddles by, supporting herself lazily on the shopping cart handlebar, briefly pausing to consider the selection of crackers. She bends over to reach for a box of Ritz, but half-way down clutches for her heart and topples into the shelving, knocking boxes everywhere as she screams in agony as her left leg uncontrollably kicks the air. Another person spots her and screams at me to go for help in a panicked manner.
I would have helped. Honest. Only problem is she actually just picked up the box, threw it in the metal cage before her, and kept walking; not at all concerned.
She didn't consider what I saw when she went for the buttery chunks of dough. All she contemplated was the brand that would make her happy; the positive choices.
There aren't any products in the grocery store that say "Canned Cancer" nor can I see any entitled "Sudden Death: Now With 20% More Gravy" next to the bottled water. Perhaps because we cannot actually fathom choosing the worst in any situation, we won't give it any mention. Of course, I couldn't exactly choose to suddenly collapse due to a heart-attack. It's beyond my control; but this doesn't mean it's not an option.
In my hand rests a can of tomato soup. It's warm, I realise, most likely because I've been holding it this whole time. My stomach rumbles. The rumble becomes violent and I feel something whelming within my stomach. An uncontrollable wave of vomit protrudes from my mouth, projecting itself all over the neatly arranged cans and onto the waxed tiled flooring. My hands instinctively strangle my gut in an attempt to numb the uncomfortable pain. I want control of it.
It was only a light cough, though. Actually, I was just clearing my throat. I replace the can on the shelf and continue on my way down the isle.
Was I lucky? It could very well have happened. It's not an unthinkable rape of physics, merely an unpredictable nuisance. It could have happened; it could still happen. Not a very positive thing to consider when purchasing tonight's dinner, eh?
So why do we only consider the positive possibilities? So bloody mind-set on one side of the coin that the other side is ignored and often "surprises" us. A man leaps from the heights of a tall building and splatters himself on the sidewalk right in front of you just as you are exiting the same building, and this moment suddenly takes you aback for it's nothing you ever considered happening. Yet, you consider the possibility of winning the lottery on a daily basis; ticket in hand.
By now I've acquired the scrapes of food I tend to live off and have made my way to a comfortable third-in-line position in an available lane. "Fuck this," I think, and march out of the store with my basket full of food and head straight for the door without paying.
"Excuse me! Sir?!" the prissy bitch at the checkout calls after me, but I'm already through the doors and on my way. What's the worst that can happen? Lose the food, get arrested, maybe do some time in a building people developed to further shun the negative possibilities this life affords. Killing the child molester really weakens the chances of it ever happening again. My ass.
The line I chose is moving nice and slow as opposed to the other one I could have chosen, which has a steady turnover. I guess I should feel unlucky, but I did consider this possibility. It's not unfathomable that I should choose the slow line; it is, however, incomprehensible that by choosing this lane the heavy sign directly above me should break off and crush me instantly.
Finally my turn arrives and lady asks how I'm doing without actually looking at me. I stare back at her, waiting for her to glance up and make eye contact before I answer. She must assume I didn't hear her and looks up at me and asks if I "found everything I was looking for?"
"No." Still staring back at her.
"Oh." She didn't consider this response. "What were you looking for?" Her job requires she asks this question. Hopefully I'll reply with something like 'baby-wipes' so she can easily direct me in their general direction with no skin off her back.
"A contract killer. Do you know where I could find one of those?"
"Excuse me, sir?"
"All the packaging seems awfully elaborate in this place. It's just food." By now I had lost her. I actually had lost myself too, but the look of utter confusion on her face was enough for me to continue on.
"Sir, I have to attend to these people behind you, have a nice day," she says while handing me my receipt and avoiding eye contact.
"This world makes no sense sometimes. It's unpredictable," I reply, but she was now ignoring me.
I leave the store slightly content that I had now given this woman something to consider; another possibility to run through her head when each customer strolls up. Could this one be fucking nuts?
The heavy sign above her register let out a loud creak and suddenly felt gravity's lure. It came crashing down just as I walked out the door, instantly crushing the priss. I didn't bother to look back to confirm this. It could have happened, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit.
It's all possible. Infinite scenarios. Fuck if I should pretend otherwise.
User Reviews
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-08-06 20:10:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks dude, much appreciated.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-08-06 19:39:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
By the way, after reading a bunch of your other stuff, you are a consistantly great writer. Especially the "it's just life" post. Thanks for posting, I really enjoy it.
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-08-06 19:29:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:44:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by KevinHo (user info) at 2006-08-06 15:58:37 (#)
Ranking: 2
He probably did and that's why he did it.
___________________________
heh heh
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:06:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Stogie (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:02:06 (#)
Ranking: 2
People don't want to think of the worst, death is frightening so they push it out of their minds. All people are really looking for is something to make their lives happier.
_____________________________
According to many philosophers and shrinks, the ultimate driving force in most human
life is the desire to be happy. Too bad some people are at their happiest when slapping
others around.
Submitted by Stogie (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:02:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
People don't want to think of the worst, death is frightening so they push it out of their minds. All people are really looking for is something to make their lives happier.
Submitted by KevinHo (user info) at 2006-08-06 15:58:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
He probably did and that's why he did it.
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-08-06 15:55:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-08-06 14:59:03 (#)
Ranking: 2
I think of the negative possibilities all the time when it comes to my computer.
I expect Windows to freeze.
I expect the saved password to get lost, and to have to call the ISP to figure out what it is.
I expect to get viruses, trojans, and spyware.
I expect for "paypal" to try and scam me even though I don't even have an account with paypal.
I expect my computer to explode, and for the green plastic shrapnel to hit me in the face and cause irreparable damage.
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BUT DID YOU EXPECT TO GET FOURTH ON THE FUCKING MVA DUE TO ONE POST I THINK NOT NOW EXCUSE ME GOOD SIR I MUST GO WANK WHILE EATING PRINGLES
TRUNKS
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-08-06 15:53:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I POOP ALL DAY
IT COMES OUT IN CHUNKS
CHUNKS CHUNKS CHUNKS
CHUNKS CHUNKS CHUNKS
b0ner
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-08-06 15:50:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by KevinHo (user info) at 2006-08-06 15:23:16 (#)
Ranking: 2
Maltese is cute.
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YOU AIN'T SO BAD YOURSELF BIG BOY WANNA COME OVER TO MY PLACE
LOLZLOLZLOLZLOLZLOLZ
Submitted by KindaNews (user info) at 2006-08-06 15:48:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by KevinHo (user info) at 2006-08-06 15:23:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Maltese is cute.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-08-06 14:59:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think of the negative possibilities all the time when it comes to my computer.
I expect Windows to freeze.
I expect the saved password to get lost, and to have to call the ISP to figure out what it is.
I expect to get viruses, trojans, and spyware.
I expect for "paypal" to try and scam me even though I don't even have an account with paypal.
I expect my computer to explode, and for the green plastic shrapnel to hit me in the face and cause irreparable damage.
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-08-06 14:15:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
AND A GUY NAMED BOB ROLLING AROUND IN HIS OWN FECES.
THAT IS ALL.
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-08-06 14:15:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
MASTURBATION
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-08-06 14:15:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
COCKS
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-08-06 14:14:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WTF IM NOT READING ALL THAT MASTURBATION SMACK SMACK ASTRONAUT CLITSACK OF DOOM ATTN GHEY MENZ ALSO RAPE AND COCKS BY THE DOOR!!!1!
OH, AND LOKI GOT RAPED PASS IT ON