In the break, Mercè relates her encounter with the homeless man. ‘I thought he kills me, you know?’ He was at least seventy years old and in a bad state. She, Kev and I return to the tills so the others can have their breaks. It’s a long stretch until lunch, which is rush hour, customers fighting over the ready-meal aisle. This is the boring time, the store almost empty. Kev timed the morning slot many times. We get one customer every ten minutes between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Kev is very shy and obsessed with numbers and planes. One day, he’ll be an excellent aeronautical engineer, but right now he’s eighteen and working here to save money for college. Take my nail file from the drawer under my till and get to work on this cuticle that gives me trouble. Cashier’s thumb. A day in the life. Serve three more businessmen. They are late for work, so I hurry for them. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep. Then this girl. Busy with her trolley. Hesitates at the till, picks up a packet of razors from the rack, puts them back. Makes eye contact. Says good morning. Small voice and face.

Not a woman, but not a girl either. I know how that feels. Awkward. That’s an awkward age, I should know. Time to choose between one thing and another. But her outfit hasn’t settled for formal or casual: little tailored coat, comfy shoes. Long straight brown hair, fringe too long. When she looks up, I am taken aback. Her eyes are like black pools: very wide and very wet. She stares at me.

I smile because it is my job to smile. She smiles back.

‘You all right?’ I say.

‘You all right,’ she says.

We both nod. She loads her shopping on to the conveyor belt. I put my nail file back. I scan her items.

‘Got everything you need?’ I say. She nods yes. I help her pack.

11:09 04/01/2017

11:09 04/01/2017

□ 6 LARGE EGGS

□ COLA DIET 6 CANS

□ PINK LADY 4X

□ BASICS COTTON WOOL

□ ROAST CHICKEN DELI

□ HEINZ TOMATO SOUP

□ PG TIPS FAMILY

□ YELLOW TAIL PINOT GRIGIO

□ OLIVIO PIMENTO 150G

□ STRAWBERRY 500G

□ GARNIER MOISTSR PEACH

□ PEO CUT FLOWERS

□ AUSSIE MIRACLE TREAT

□ SINGLE CREAM 250ML

□ SIRLOIN TOP SIDE 250G

□ THICK BLEACH 1L

□ GU 2X CHOC PUDDING

17 ITEMS

BALANCE DUE

DEBIT CARD

CHANGE

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely business. (What a sad thing to want to believe.) This book would not exist without the help and support of other people.