For Want of a Penny

Posted on July 8, 2005 in Encounters

The line in Souplantation wasn’t very long. Our sliding trays didn’t stall until we caught up with a trio of Japanese just before the cash register. I stood there while they had the cashier repeat the total. Americans — or for that matter any nationality — often forget to slow down their speech just a little so that foreign visitors can understand them. The freckle-faced girl moved them on. Then it came to us.

The bill for our salad bar gluttony came to $20.13. Exactly. I pulled my last twenty out of my wallet and rifled about in my pockets until I came up with a dime and two pennies. Twelve cents. I asked Lynn if she had an extra penny. She opened up every pocket of her purse. I began to think that this girl might not allow us to eat there. Would I have to find one of the managers I knew and negotiate a loan of one cent? I couldn’t believe that the girl didn’t say “Ah, it’s just a penny.” She stood there, waiting for us to produce exactly the right change. And when Lynn materialized a beaten five dollar bill, the cashier snatched it from her hand and thrust back four soggy ones and a variety of coppery and silvery coins..

We sat down. I chuckled and said “Do you think she’s new?”