Home » Poems » Sidney Beck » Check Out the Checkout

Check Out the Checkout

CHECK    OUT    THE    CHECKOUT

(Two checkout girls having a tete-a-tete 
as customers pass through with their groceries)

Beep….That’s   $35:67.  Do you collect the elephant tokens? Cash or charge?
So,  Maria,  I was with Ernie last night as I was sayin’
Beep…..Sorry you have to weigh the potatoes
And he says to me c’mon lets go out someplace special
Well I thinks ok now we’re talkin’ …maybe a disco or a night club
No, not the red one, the big one with the elephant-photo
And he says what about a bottle of beer and a burger
and we’ll go back to your place and maybe….watch tv?  Hmmm?
Beep….The biscuits are on offer , this is El Cheapo Week, sir
So I sez, what kind of a girl do you think I am?!
Bottle of beer and  “watch tv”!!
Beep….Yes you can have it  this week at half price , sir
I sez, bottle of beer?!  I want at least a bottle of wine(in a glass bottle)
BEEP BEEP….Oh God, Jen, me machine’s on the blink
Call the super will you?. . .  while I hold this man’s sausage. . .  
before it gets cold. . . . yeah in a glass bottle , and 
some Chinese  food as well,  at a sit-down place, 
and not with paper plates either
Oh  God. . . I’ve just broken me nail on his big sausage…damn!
Oh thanks  Irene, the BEEPS are drivin’ me mad, it needs your key -
You have a way with these machines  hahaha
(Same with the fellas  I guess  hahaha)
Oh that’s it,  great. . . . .beep….. So then he sez   I can’t afford
freakin’ Chinese and glass-bottle wine
Yes  -   that’s  all sir?  Beep….$49:60 Do you collect the elephant tokens?
Cash or charge?  So I sez….beep….. well you’d better find the cash for Chinese 
or you won’t be watching    MY   tv  very often  Ernie.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Written by Sydney Peck  for
FRANK   H.'s  Contest 	THE CONVERSATION

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.