May 11, 2009
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Carsons, and other code words
“Where is the woman’s department?”
wink wink
we all know the whole 2nd flood of Carsons is for women.
“Women” is the code word for “plus sizes.”
that took me awhile. and a lot of embarrassing situations before i found out.
“What? Women’s department? you are on the right floor.”
“No, i mean the WOMEN’S DEPARTMENT.”
“Yes, we sell women’s clothes on this whole floor.”
“No, i mean…”
grin. hmmm. turn red.
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“Were there any coupons in the paper?”
wink wink
we all know this is code for “hook me up with some coupons, i know you have them at the regester somewhere.”
if this doesn’t work, they move on to:
“But that other cashiere always gave me coupons.”
to which i have many different responses to…but never say them.
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For my lunch break, i go to Boarders and read a good book. right now it is “City of Thieves” amazing. yes. it makes my day very happy. i will be sad when i finish it. who needs to buy books when the best books are free?
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I swallow the words every time i ring up a sale and say the total when it is over $100. “one-eighty-six” i say, or “Two-twenty-five” with a swallow. i try not to say “hundred” in the sentence. it just hurts a little. my mind races and HOW could they spend that much? we have become aclamated. we are used to $20 bills. the woman shops, making sure to buy things “on sale,” and then brings it to the regester. each item is around $20. $20 is reasonable for something i want, right? well, 6 items and where are you? spending a lot of money. and i fold it up and put it in a bag and off they go, carrying in a small white sack the value of what i spend for living a MONTH in Brasil.
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Mothers day. the weekend where the second floor of Carsons (the women’s clothes) is suddenly visited by men. mostly lost looking men, but i give them points for trying. double points if they have coupons. must mostly, they bring in a catalog and point to a picture and say “i need this! can you find THIS shirt for me? She like THIS!” and i find it (and they are so impressed) and sometimes i give the nice ones coupons. because…i like watching guys shop for their girls. it makes me happy.
