I was dismayed to see somebody using the right lottery machine at Country Mart on Friday. I always make that my first stop, before entering into the store proper for groceries. The right machine has the crossword tickets that I crave.
At least the left machine was working. I went over there to get the lesser crossword, the $3 version, that I abhor, but get for my favorite cashier at the Gas Station Chicken Store. Tipping is not allowed, but what can it hurt to give a token of appreciation in the form of a lottery ticket...
Anyhoo... I really wanted to get my $5 crossword out of that machine on the right. This weirdo was just standing there! Not buying. Standing in front of the machine, blocking it, while scratching a ticket. It took quite a long time. I was beginning to suspect that he was just going through the motions. Did he really buy that ticket? Or maybe did he get it out of the wastebasket nearby?
Don't get me wrong. I don't begrudge people taking tickets out of the wastebasket. Some people have found winners there. At the very least, they can get tickets to scan into the MOLottery.com app for points towards drawings and free tickets. I don't scan mine in, so when I throw away a ticket after redeeming the winning prize amounts in a machine, they're still good for someone else with the patience to use the points.
Anyhoo... this guy smelled really bad. Not like body odor, but like not bathing. I had pulled my cart over by the unused registers to wait until I could gain access to the machine. I guess the Weirdo got a clue, because he moved over to the side while still pretending to be preoccupied with his ticket. It gave me the creeps, honestly. But I wanted my crossword. Weirdo seemed entirely too interested in what I was doing.
Once I had shopped and was checking out, the older guy who sometimes cashiers called for a young gal employee. "When you're not busy, go tell Manager about that guy. That old man who comes in for the lottery. Oh! Wait. He's back again."
Indeed, Weirdo was at the right machine, talking to some man who was buying tickets. I don't know the nature of their conversation. I had deliberately not made eye contact when I was there, so as to discourage interaction. I could feel Weirdo looking at me, but refused to engage. I'm not sure what was going on with him. Maybe he was waiting for somebody to ask to buy him a ticket. Maybe not. Maybe he was just a lonely smelly guy seeking human contact.
Anyhoo... I got my crossword and escaped without conversing with Weirdo. It was not to be our last meeting...
Wait! I thought not bathing was a cause of body odor. There is one store where I see men and know they smell before I am in smelling range, so I take a deep breath before I get near and try to move fast. They usually have on overalls with a sports coat or suit jacket over them.
ReplyDeleteBy "body odor," I was referring to the traditional "BO" smell of sweaty armpits. This was the old musty smell of dirty hair and clothes that comes from not bathing for a week or more.
DeleteThis Weirdo was wearing baggy sweatpants and sneakers and a sweatshirt, not dressed so formally as your smelly guys!
You did the right thing & didn't make eye contact. I hope he moves along. He sounds unwell.
ReplyDeleteThere was something a little bit off about him. Just the way he was standing there scratching his tickets in front of the machine. Other people at least step aside, but the majority take their tickets out of the store with them.
DeleteI tend to avoid people who seem to be just hanging around with no purpose. I dislike awkward conversations where someone might ask me to buy something for them, or ask for money which I never have anyway.
ReplyDeleteYes. I know exactly what you mean. Don't engage. You can't save the world.
Delete@Linda; sometimes the smell is unwashed clothes, even if they look clean, they can hold smells, BO, a build up of deodorant or perfume products, cigarette smoke etc. Some people wash themselves but then wear the same clothes all week (or all month) because they look clean.
ReplyDelete