Shopping for Food
Joe E Hartley
March 2021
Jack entered the store pushing a cart and with grocery list in hand. He paused just past the door to clear the way of others wanting to enter and scanned the area. He knew where the items were that were on his list; he wasn't scanning for those. He looked for what he'd discovered several months ago and since that time had become one of his greatest pleasures.
A few months back he'd been out doing his weekly leisurely shopping; he tended to take his time attending to this task since he retired and had little else to do, when a cart bumped into him from behind. He turned and discovered a woman less than half his age and very distracted.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," the young woman said, "are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I?"
Jack was often considered frail by the younger crowd," If you wanted to meet me, a simple hello would have worked, but I'm not available for dating right now," He replied with a grin.
The young woman looked confused, not getting his joke, "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention," she added before quickly moving around him.
Jack just shrugged his shoulders, it seems that the younger crowd was always in a hurry. He continued his shopping and a few minutes later in another aisle the woman bumped into him again.
Jack turned to see the same distracted woman, "Now I know you are stalking me, but leave your number and I'll call you when I'm available to date."
"I'm so sorry," she started, "What? No!"
She actually heard what he'd said and Jack laughed. "I'm Jack and if you don't mind my saying, you seem distracted and a bit stressed. Can I help you in any way?"
"Oh, sorry. Yes, I am stressed out. My husband just told me he's bringing over some coworker for dinner tonight and I have no idea what to make for them. We were just going to have whatever leftovers we could find tonight. I wasn't planning on cooking."
"I get it. You only have a couple of hours to come up with an idea, buy the ingredients, cook it all and look like it as no problem at all, right?" Jack offered.
"Yeah, you got it. What can I do?"
"How about something really simple and quick, like pork chops?"
"My husband loves pork chop, but I don't know how to cook them."
"Come with me," Jack said leaving his cart and directing his new friend over to the meat department. He picked out a family pack of pork chops and described to her the method of browning them in a skillet on the stovetop. He then led her to the soup aisle and picked up a can of cream of mushroom soup as he described the purpose of the sauce with the browned pork chops. He then grabbed two cans of sour kraut. He described how to put all the ingredients together and wished her luck.
She thanked him and hurried to buy her selections and rush home.
The following week, Jack again saw the woman although this time she seemed much more relaxed. She approached him smiling.
"Thank you so much for your suggestion about the pork chops. They were a huge success and so simple. My husband wants me to make them again."
"I'm so glad I could help." Jack said.
The woman put her arms around Jack, giving him a warm hug, "You were a life saver. My name is Liz, by the way. I know I was a bit out of it last week, but didn't you say your name is Jack, but not available for dating."
"Yep, that's me and I'll have to check my calendar to see if I can squeeze you in for a date."
That was the start of several months of flirting between the two of them. Liz loved to tease poor old Jack, but Jack felt young again and allowed his fantasy life to again have space in his mind.
Jack often had a compliment for Liz whenever he saw her. They started out fairly tame such as—You are looking cheerful today, or I like what you've done with you hair. Within a few weeks the complements shifted to the clothes she wore and again weren't that inappropriate to start such as—That's a nice color on you, or is that a new top?
Jack then started to complement the clothes that flattered her figure or showed a bit of skin. He complemented the low cut tops she wore, or whenever she was not wearing a bra.
Liz enjoyed the attention Jack lavished on her and when his attentions shifted to her figure, she made sure to dress in a way to encourage him. Liz was not accustomed to men paying attention to her. All through school she had been the one ignored and passed by. She didn't consider herself ugly, but it seemed that hers was the minority opinion. It didn't help that she was socially awkward, due in large part to the way her mother raised her.
She only ever dated her now husband and that for only a few months. Her mother had insisted she marry him since no other man would ever be interested in her.
She looked forward to seeing Jack at the grocery story every week and found out he was a widower; his wife had passed away ten years ago. He was also retired and lived on a small pension and social security. He, like her, had few friends and those he did have, rarely left their homes.
Jack still scanned the store for Liz. It was possible that she wasn't here today or had already finished her shopping. He tried to tell himself that over the past several months they had settled on Thursdays at 10 AM. He tried to remember if today was Thursday, he sometimes forgot what the day was since he retired. He checked his watch and it was one minute before 10. He thought that maybe he was early, just as a cart bumped into him.
"I'm sorry, but you just looked so lost in thought that I figured you needed a bump to bring you back into the here and now."
Jack turned and saw a smiling Liz with her hands on the cart that had just assaulted him. He tried to think of a witty comeback, but was rendered speechless by the thin blue, sleeveless shirt she wore. The shirt was attractive on her and not oversized like so many of the garments she wore. This one fit her well, very well. It had a vee neck that plunged deep, not deep by current women's fashions, but deep by Liz's fashion standards. She also wore no bra and her nipples were noticeable.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" she asked the shocked Jack standing before her with his mouth open.
He recovered and replied, "Sorry to stare, but I didn't know fashion models shopped here."
Liz laughed, "That's what I like about you, you don't get out much."
"Actually I get out a lot and I notice that so many of the women out there are plastic, but you're not. That top was meant for you. It accentuates your charms nicely. Your breasts move with a natural grace encouraging carnal thoughts in those near you."
Liz picked up the sweater she had placed on the handrail of her cart and hesitated. Her nipples were tightening either from the coolness in the store or from the words she had just heard. The voice of her mother screamed though her head, that she should always cover herself completely or be thought of as a whore.
Jack noticed her hesitation as she looked at the sweater. He could imagine the thought processes going though her head about good girls who did not display their bodies arguing with the parts of her who saw people having fun and teasing with their bodies.
"I'll understand if you want to cover up now. I just feel privileged that you would allow me to see the artistry of your charms. You have made me a very happy man today."
