The grocery manager, stockboys, checkers, and about 20 shoppers were all gathered around her, holding their breaths and murmuring something that she couldn't make out. She realized she was flat on her back -- and OOOWWWW! Her head was pounding! She tried to sit up. "Whh ... whh ... what happened? Where am I? Who are you all? And hey! Where is Bob Barker?"
"Bob Barker!?!" the murmurs in the crowd became a little louder and all of a sudden everyone was talking at once! Then came the nervous twitters and giggles, then outright laughter! They were all relieved that she seemed okay, and except for that nasty bump on her head and the crazy talk about Bob Barker, it seemed like the crisis was over.
The store manager offered to call someone to pick her up, but Poofie just shook her head and waved them off. "I'll be okay as soon as I get home and get some rest. I guess I must have passed out -- I HAVE been under a lot of stress lately and haven't been able to sleep well."
So Poofie gathered up her things that were strewn all over the floor ... thanked everyone for their concern but assured them that she would be fine, and went out to her waiting van. She sat there for a few more minutes, feeling of the growing bump on her head and wondering what on earth had happened. "I really must make an appointment with the doctor soon! This stress is going to kill me yet!"
Slowly she turns out of the parking lot onto a busy street and heads toward home. Back to the problems at work. Back to the problems with her husband, the kids and the car. Back to the never-ending pile of bills and the house that probably needed a good cleaning. Her daughter would probably want to go to the mall tonight. She sighed ... then shrugged her shoulders and pulled into her driveway.
~ THE END ~