The Last Five Minutes

I walk into the small grocery on the corner and glance at my watch. I have five minutes. If I hurry I just might make it back to work on time. I look around me trying to decide which aisle to take first. I want my bread on top of all the other groceries so I head to the freezers instead. Besides, the bread is by the counter and what is the sense of going there now when I'll have to go there after I have grabbed all the rest of my groceries. I want something quick for a meal tonight. Should I get a bag of fries? Maybe I'll get fries and fish sticks. I look into the freezer. Why can't they just make one type of fry? It would make my life a lot simpler and it would be a lot faster for those of us who are late for work. Oh well, some people like variety. I grab the nearest bag and head down the soup aisle. I look over all the types of soup. Oh, for pete's sake. Hearty Chicken, Grilled Chicken, Veggie, Corn Chowder. I reach for whatever when I hear my friend Dave call me.

"Jeff!" Dave walks up the aisle toward me. Should I see if he's free to hang out tonight? Other than my project for work I've got a free night a head of me and I need to relax after the stress of trying to get this project done.

"What are you up to?" I ask. I know he's just killing time before his lunch break is over but I figure I'll ask just the same.

"Not much." He glances into my grocery basket. He's going to make some sort of comment. He always has his mind on being healthy and stuff. Right now I couldn't care less whether I'm eating healthy or not. I have too much else to worry about. "Fries? Don't you know those things can kill you?"

I would roll my eyes right now if I weren't worried about offending him. I give him my polite laugh but he doesn't notice. "I'm not too worried about it. The only way these things will kill me is if I choke on them." I'm running out of time. If I don't hurry now I know I'm going to be late. "Look, I've got to run. I'm going to be late back to work if I don't get moving. What are you doing after six tonight?"

"Probably going over to Patty's for coffee." Dave shrugs.

"Okay, I'll see you there around six. I'm going home for a quick bite and to work on my project a bit but I'm sure I'll want a break by then." Dave nods at me and wanders back down the aisle. How can he have that much time on his hands? I'm always running my butt off trying to make up time when I'm on my lunch break.

Oh well, I had better get moving. I grab a few cans of soup. I don't even look at the labels when I grab them. I guess I'll just surprise myself when I go to make them for my supper some night. I glance at my watch again. Two minutes. I have wasted too much time. Good thing my boss is lenient.

I get the rest of my groceries, grabbing the bread last and head to the till. There are a couple people people a head of me so I have to wait. I guess I'll just take up the time with reading the tabloid headlines. Let's see what interesting news they have for all the unfortunate people out there. Unfortunate if they actually believe that junk. "The Love Triangle: First Tiffany. Who is Next to Die?" Yeah, that's real believable. Even the pictures look fake. That is definitely not her body.

What the... That guy just shoved by me! I do not need someone butting in line when I only have a little over a minute to get to work. "What do you think you're doing?" I stop dead. That's a gun he has pointing at me. I see the barrel shake slightlyand then he turns it on the cashier. I look at the other customers. What is that old lady doing? Is she trying to sneak her way out the door? No, she couldn't be that stupid. Dave is nowhere in sight. Everyone else is cowering on the floor. Oh great, does this mean I have to be the hero who tries to save the day? I don't want to be a hero. Okay, think. So what will I do? I can't stand here like a mindless idiot while this guy beats the crap out of the cashier. I have to do something. "Hey, buddy, she's scared. Give her a break."

No... I look at the small hole of the gun barrel. Will I see the bullet when he shoots? Breathe. He's just panicked. He won't actually shoot you. I glance away from the gun at the girl behind the counter. Is that relief in her eyes? My eyes are drawn back to the gun like a magnet. "Now... now just wait a minute." So this is what fear tastes like. Oh man, I think I'm going to puke.

The man turns back to the girl but the gun is still on me. "Give me that bag!" He hits her again. I knew I shouldn't have tried to play hero. "As for you..." He turns back and faces me. What is he going to do? I can't help myself. I look quickly at my watch. I would have had fifteen seconds to get to work if this guy hadn't shown up. "What are you looking at?!"

My lips don't want to work. I'm trying to talk but no words are coming out. What is wrong with me? Talk already! "What are you looking at!!!" I feel the gun barrel press against my chest. Oh God, I can't breathe. He's flipping out! Say something!

"I... I was just looking at my watch." I got it out. Please, just leave.

"You want me to beieve that? You have a phone or something don't you? You think you're pretty smart! Get my attention away andd then call the cops!"

All I can hear is the ringing in my ears. I think the gun just went off but I can't feel a thing. I'm falling. Why can't I stop myself? Why is everyone staring at me? I touch the hole in my chest. Is this really my blood? It doesn't hurt. I feel so tired. As my eyes flutter shut I can hear my friend's comment again. "Fries? Don't you know those things can kill you?" Fries...