Fletcher

"Tomatoes!!"

"Gummy bears!!"

"Root beer!!"

I was in line at the Co-op grocery store, piling my goods onto the conveyor when I overheard the commentary on the wares being purchased by the lady in front of me.  I looked up to see a lone fellow at the end of the till, wearing a company uniform, with a smile stretched from ear-to-ear.  Each item that came into his grasp, he would loudly announce what it was and, if the feeling was right, would make a mild comment on that item.

I don't know what his name was.  I never saw a name tag, He could have been a David, a Michael or Duncan, for all I know, but he looked like a Fletcher, to me.  From his mannerisms, I instantly recognized that he was a person with special needs, but it was his joyous exuberance that really caught my attention.  The lady in front of me, was visibly annoyed from the attention that her purchases were attracting, but simply smiled, nodded and waved as she gathered up her bags and departed.

Next was my turn.  I was only picking up some cheaply priced soda pop.  Root beer was included in the menagerie, as was some diet cola, ginger ale and grape soda.  I don't "Fletcher" was a fan of the Ginger Ale, as he overlooked it in his dialogue, but as soon as he noticed the purple liquid, he erupted with excitement.  "Ooh!  Grape!" he shouted out with glee, "I love grape!  I'm going to have to buy some grape, today, before I go home!!"  I smiled and admitted to my peculiar craving for the sweet beverage from time-to-time, which I think he liked.

Then he noticed the four cases of canned diet root beer.  "Ah-hah!" he said, picking up the case and transferring into my cart.  "Diet is good for you.  But pop isn't good for you.  Hmm..."  The cashier agreed with that surmise.  "No pop is really good for you." she said.

I thanked him and wished him a good weekend.  He smiled and waved, thanking me, adding "Have fun at the party!!"  I bother to correct him that I was making the purchase for my own gluttony, as opposed to supplying refreshments to a festivity.

I stopped at the Customer Service Desk and told the lone occupant that "Fletcher" was really really nice.  I was in a pretty good mood when I went into the shopping center, but I was leaving with a smile stretched across my face, from ear-to-ear, that was rivaled only by the one on Fletcher's face.