Loquacious: Outside Walmart
A brief (though not as brief as it should have been) dialogue (though not as equally shared as a dialogue might ought to be), inspired by the June Journals word loquacious, meaning talkative.
Oh hey! How’s it going?
I’m doing alright, how ‘bout yourself?
Alright, alright. You look like you’re runnin’ to somewhere.
Yeah, I gotta go pick up the babies, but I had to swing in here first. You know how it is, can’t take the babies in the store with you or they’ll be screaming for everything.
Oh yeah, for sure.
And they been eating me out of house and home right now. Feels like every other day got me going to the store. Their favorite is watermelon. I love it when it’s in season, because at least I know it’s something everyone in our house agrees on. Plus I get a good workout, lugging those things back and forth from the store to the car and back to house. Wish I could get them from someone other than bulk-buy Wally World. You know of any local guys selling yet?
Yeah, there’s that guy in the parking lot on the corner of Community Road.
Like across from the railroad tracks, near the newspaper? I seen a guy there before but he was selling peaches. Had some the size of my fist. We’re in peach season too, aren’t we? Like I said, my babies love watermelon, but I could eat my weight in peaches. Peaches and cherries. They been on sale here lately, cherries have. I still cringe when it rings up, but it’s better than any other time of year, so Imma take what I can get! You like cherries?
Not really. I prefer the watermelon.
Well any time you’re around, you’re welcome to swing by for some. Providing the babies haven’t eaten it all already. I swear, they eat watermelon like it’s going out of style. My husband too. Right down to the rind.
Hey how’s he been lately? I haven’t seen him around.
He’s been good! Yeah, just busy, you know how it is. He’s busy managing that group at church and helping out Ms. Mae with her garden, which is absolutely exploding right now. Squash the size of your arm! Which is kind of a shame, I wish she’d plant more zucchinis, because that’s what my babies eat. They don’t take to squash, not unless it’s baked up in a casserole and honestly, once you put that much cheese and cream and breadcrumbs and all that on it, can you really call it a vegetable anymore?
I don’t suppose you can.
But at least they eat it, right? Pediatricians these days have so many opinions about what kids should and shouldn’t be eating and how much of it and I’m totally on board with it, you know, I want my kids to be healthy and all that. But there are some days where I’m just like, yo, I just need them to eat, okay, I ain’t got time to be finicking around with whether their plate is the right ratio of green to brown to purple, you know what I’m saying?
Ha, yeah, I remember those days.
Feels good to have them behind you, huh?
I don’t miss the lack of sleep, that’s for sure.
How old are yours now?
14, 16 and 19. Lexi just finished her first year of college.
Get out! That’s insane. Time flies, doesn’t it? I know it does, and I’m trying to soak up every last bit of it, but I know that before I know it, they’ll be off to college just like yours. Aaron’s 16, you said? Does that mean you have a fresh driver on the roads now?
He wishes! He’s still working on passing his driver’s test. Third time’s the charm.
Hey, ain’t no shame in that. I’d rather my kids have to take the test a million times before rolling out into the street, rather than it being a super easy test to pass and they get out there and don’t have a clue what to do if the light turns yellow when they’re in the middle of the intersection, you know what I mean? I remember when I first started driving, that was the most terrifying part about it. I’d take completely different routes if it meant avoiding a left turn on a across traffic without a green arrow. Oh hey, George!
Hey, how’s it going?
Oh you know, just running from one place to the next.
I hear that. Well, I’ll see ya.
See ya!
Bye.
Well, speaking of, I guess I better be going. You know how it is, babies don’t let you live it down if you’re late. And neither do the workers at the daycare center.
I hear that.
Hey, it was great talking to you! We should catch up again some time, when we’re both not running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Don’t know if a day like that’ll ever come, but if it does, I’ll surely hit you up.
Sounds good. I’ll catch you later.
Alright!
*phone rings*
Hello? Yes ma’am, I’m on my way, I got held up at Walmart. Yeah, you know how it is, some folks just don’t know when to stop chatting. Yes ma’am, I’ll be there in twenty. You like watermelon, right? Cherries? Yeah me too. Don’t worry—I got you.
*click*
— khm —
We’re five days in! How has your June Journaling been so far? Share in the comments—and see you again tomorrow!