Each time in a big box store, I had had a really hard time finding one of those shop brooms with the soft bristles that sweep up the fine dust really well.

I finally found one in the local big box store. 

I pulled it down from the hook it was on and pushed it along the floor just to see if it felt right.

It did.

And then I thought, “I wonder how well those big wide dry mops that they use to clean these aisles really work.”

So, as I made my way to the check-out counter, I pushed my broom along and watched with interest how much dirt, dust, and trash started accumulating in front of my broom.

I wasn’t expecting what happened next.

“Sir, could you tell me where the drill bits are?”

“Naw, I don’t work here.”

“Oh, okay.”

This was getting fun.

Next aisle.

“Sir, could you tell me where to find the trash bags?”

“Naw, I don’t work here.”

Next aisle . . .

“Sir . . .”  And then I figured it had gone on long enough to I picked my broom up and paid for it. 

I guess, even though I wasn’t wearing a company uniform, I must have looked the part by pushing the broom along.  Wonder what a guy could learn if he spent all day pushing a broom around in one of those stores?

…..

In another big box store.

I am walking along, looking down the long cross aisles that lead away from me to the back of the store.

My hands are in my jacket pockets.

One hand feels something and finds out it is a roll of black vinyl tape.

That hand fingers the roll as if it is supposed to do something with it.

In fact, it knows what it wants to do with it.

My brain wonders, “What if I could get it to roll all the way to the back of the store?”

The store is empty, (mostly) and I quickly check the whereabouts of Mama J and the sweet daughter.  I wish to include them in this experiment also.

Getting my timing just right, so the black roll of tape will go jogging by the end of the aisle they are exiting at the same time they are, I give it my newly practiced backhand wrist flick.

I don’t know why those nice ladies think there are black mice in a big box store, nor do I know why they emitted the noises they did over just a little roll of black tape.

Oh.  My aim wasn’t the greatest, so I only made it halfway to the back of the store before my tape went awol. 

And, in sort of a kneejerk reaction, I suppose, I was quite strongly remonstrated by Mama J not to do things like that in the store anymore because the store employees may not like it.