⭐️Fast Man, Crying Woman 868

Osamu is a fast man.
That is why he is popular.

Osamu (pseudonym, eldest son) is the middle of three siblings.
He has been working part-time at an Aeon-affiliated supermarket for many years.


Lately, at home, he reads doujinshi and laughs.
I guess that is his haul from Comiket.
I wonder how many books he bought in total?

Even though he has short hair, neatly trimmed nails, and a bit of fat on his belly now, before he started working here, his hair was messy, his nails were long, and he was as skinny as a rake.


As you can see, he still looks lanky in the header image (candid shot by Mom).


Osamu has a good reputation (apparently) whether he is at the service counter or the register.
He is quick, fast, observant, friendly, and hardworking (apparently).
I say "apparently" because I rarely have the chance to see it myself.

Ever since Osamu stopped talking to me, he makes an obviously disgusted face when I line up at his register.
And he doesn't say a word.
He doesn't say "Thank you for waiting" or "Thank you."
I don't want to ruin his reputation or performance reviews with that, so I don't line up there.

Osamu's line moves smoothly.
Even now that there are more self-checkout registers, Osamu's line is overwhelmingly fast.
I have to look sideways and line up in a slow-moving line that never seems to progress.
Before I knew it, I stopped going to that supermarket.

But, you know, I want to go buy oxygen-based bleach before it runs out.
Of all days, it was on one of Osamu's work days.
I thought, "I'll be fine if Osamu doesn't spot me," and went out on Thursday, August 15th.

I thought, "That register is fast!!" and as I approached, it was indeed Osamu's register.
I had no choice but to line up at the register behind Osamu's.
That one is moving smoothly, while this one is crawling along.


"Do you have a coupon?"
An unfriendly female clerk asks without looking up or making eye contact.
I rarely come here, but I do have the app.
But I know today is a day where it's better to pay with a credit card, so I keep my iPhone off.

When I moved to the payment machine, another clerk with a big smile approached me and said, "It is definitely a better deal if you use the coupon."
She said I would get 3% off with the coupon and an additional 5% off when the credit card payment is processed.
I hurriedly turned my iPhone on.

Even though my son has been working there for years, I never knew that until now.
Because he never tells me.
If anything, I would pay him back later if Osamu bought it for me at the employee price.
It's frustrating to lose out, but I am hopeless at information that saves money.


While slowly and sluggishly putting five bottles of bleach into my eco-bag at the bagging station, I prick up my ears to keep an eye on Osamu.
Just like a paparazzi looking for a scoop.

While the customer is paying, Osamu puts the items on the bottom shelf of the cart.
He's such a good boy, it makes me happy ⤵️

Osamu hands over the scanner.
His voice and gestures are gentle, and it makes me happy again.
Normally, this is the role of the female clerk on the far left (only her left hand, apron, and left foot are visible).
The shape of her left hand looks like she is saying "Oh" ⤵️

"This register is open.
Please come this way."
I heard Osamu's voice just as I was about to put my eco-bag on my shoulder, feeling anxious about whether the fabric could withstand 5kg.
He was calling out to a customer who had been waiting in another line.
Yes, yes, he is speaking gently.


What impressed me was that he placed the basket on its side on the register counter until the customer moved over, so that other customers wouldn't line up there.
You know how sometimes people who were waiting behind someone suddenly rush over, or people who weren't even in line move over thinking, "Lucky!"

I was crying.
I was crying quietly.
I was so happy my heart was full.
Even though he didn't call out to me or treat me kindly.
Even though Osamu is surely just doing what he considers to be normal on a daily basis.

Oh no.
If I stay any longer, I'll be found out.
And if I'm crying, it would definitely behilariousand annoying.
I'd better sneak away.
I sneak away, cradling my 5kg eco-bag like a baby.
Since its neck isn't supported, I carry it horizontally.

I feel a warm and gentle sensation.
I almost smile at the baby, then hurriedly pull back the smile.
I'm glad I didn't smile at it.
What I was holding in my arms wasn't a baby.
I'm glad I wasn't thought of as a dangerous person.
I'm really glad the paparazzi wasn't caught by Osamu.

#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout #KonishiKinoko-sama

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#Mr_Yasu_Uedayasushi ⤵️

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#AEON #PartTimeJob #Cashier #OxygenBleach #FastMan #CryingWoman #Essay #Blog #Column #Prose #MiscellaneousWriting #PersonalNotes #Depression #Unemployed #Jobless Day 646