#anywhere

Kerri is at the grocery store . Magic cauldrons are very good, but too much use of it can cause the duplicates to get a bit stale. And foraging is an honorable tradition.

The grocery store has been one of the many factors in the Hearth's life that has helped her keep the Bedlam away.

She grins and nods hello to some of the familiar employees. There are a number of new ones, too, kids employed for the summer. To them, she's just another customer.

Indeed. Things looks a bit frustrating for some customers, for the switch to self check out is not well recieved

Wait...they can't possibly have switched entirely to self check out.

No, but the poor girl at the check out line is looking overwhelmed. The management has understaffed

Kerri frowns...and seeks out the manager.

And folks are grumbling, cranky

She finds the manager office, the door is closed but she can see through a window the current manager on his phone inside. By the way he is holding it, he's either texting, or playing an ap?

She's been shopping here since before this guy became manager. She doesn't feel any hesitation in knocking on the door, three quick raps.

A surprised look, he cranes around as if aliens had landed, then realizes.. someone is at the door? He rises slowly "Jeff, if this is about the store room, don't worry. A quick mop will take the worst of it"

"It's Kerri Davidson." Yes, one of your best customers, regularly purchases for a large household, open up.

At that he straightens hsi tie and opens up "Mrs. Davidson! What a delight. " He puts on his best 'suck up' face

"Thank you!" she smiles. "You're looking well." Sometimes lies are social lubrication.

"Well thank you, thank you. " He says "Trying some glutten free this week " A thought "Not that our bread isn't great"

"Oh, it's very fine, indeed," she reassures him, though her own is better.

"I was hoping I could have you look at something, though." She beckons him to the door, where his office looks out on the cash registers.

"Oh my, yes, that's a problem" He looks "More people should be using our wonderful self check out options. They're really rather easy"

They are not always rather easy. Sometimes they glitch, sans nocker... and older folks are frustrated

"Yes, they are rather easy," she works with his presumption. "Which might make you wonder why people aren't using them. And why they're getting upset."

"I certainly don't use them."

"Well, let me SHOW you " He offers starting to guide her to a machine.

She gently puts a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"No, please. You're missing the point."

He stops "Ah? yes?"

She leans close to speak quietly. "Look at your customers. Many of them are older or retired. They don't want to have a machine go beep-beep-beep at them, or worse, talk at them with a computer voice. They want an interaction, no matter how brief, with the person taking their money."

"Also," she points out, "some of these people might be looking for work. I can't think of anything I'd resent more than using a machine that stole a human's job."

"I'm sure the self-checkout will be fine for those who are only visiting...but your regulars want humans."

(Charisma plus Persuasion or Empathy, or best guess 🙂 )

/roll 8

He looks at first ready to be stubborn. Then he sees the poor girl there looking THIS close to losing her cherub like demeanor. She needs this job, but she 's feeling less drive to give her best. And someone says something about the farmer's market at least having room to move...

"I think you're about to lose some customers," she adds quietly. "Maybe it would be best to call in back up. Or cover a register yourself for a while?"

and with that he says "Ah, well, we'll try to educate them for their own convenience but obviously now is not the time. I'll get to that register and call someone in. Pardon" if she lets him past, he uses his phone to call an employee "Linda? Can you come in? " As he opens another register

Kerri simply grins and get on with her shopping.

The result is gratifying. This is not a place where Musing happens per se, but the risk of building banality has been nipped in the bud, or at least reduced. Relief floods all involved, tensions ease.

By the time she gets to the register with her own full cart, she sees..... (?)

Two more workers coming in, Linda...and... oh dear lord, a very nervous looking Gerd!

Both wearing uniforms

Linda takes over the 'manager's' row, while Gerd opens a third

Kerri blinks, surprised, and aims for Gerd's register.

Those long legs and skil levels in Cart management pay off and she gets there first.

"Hello, thank you for shopping at..."a blink "Kerri?"

Well, she can certainly be patient if others were waiting. But she is eager to talk when she gets her turn. "Gerd, I didn't know you had a job here!"

"Part time" She says and starts sorting the groceries, "I'm saving up money...for.. uhm stuff" A sheepish look "And oddly, this is yet another way to 'take control of the food'" then a lower vvoice "I admit, not very 'glamourous'"

Kerri nods, accepting this easily. "Well, I'm curious about 'stuff' but you don't need to tell me. And since when is helping others not glamourous? Even if you are earning a paycheck."

The first girl who was in the breaches looks like she is now willing to reconsider quitting on the spot

She has all her reusable bags, and Gerd knows how she likes them packed, so it's quick work.

Gerd says "Well, you know if nothing else, it keeps me out of the B-E-D-L-A-M" She moves on "Any coupons? Or a membership?"

Not surprisingly, Kerri produces both a handful of carefully organized coupons and a membership card. Her Hearth savvy is strong.