HOME | DD

Description
Jessica swiped the card again.
Card declined.
She tried rubbing it on her jeans - she'd heard somewhere that the static helps.
Still declined.
"Oh come on already," the middle aged woman behind her snapped. "I have ice cream melting in my cart."
"I'm sorry," Jessica said more to the cashier than the grumpy lady. "I swear, I just made a payment yesterday. They said it would be processed as of midnight."
"Here, let me try," the cashier said politely.
Jessica handed her the card.
The cashier tried typing in the numbers. "Sometimes the magnetic strip on these just goes bad."
Card declined.
The lady behind Jessica huffed and began backing her cart out of the aisle. She bumped into another guy who was trying to enter.
Instead of apologizing or saying "excuse me" she just growled "Don't bother, buddy. Big waste of my time." She stormed off to find another open register.
Jessica wasn't sorry to see her go.
She apologized to the cashier again and glanced at the guy who just been run into.
"I'm really sorry. I don't know what to do." Her voice broke on the last word and tears filled her eyes. "Oh god, what am I going to do."
He gave her a kind smile. It created small wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He had nice eyes.
"It's ok, sweetie." The cashier gave her a sympathetic smile. "This happens all the time, don't feel bad. Look, we can take a few items off the charge and see if it goes through for less."
Jessica just nodded, afraid a sob would sneak out if she opened her mouth to speak.
The cashier patiently removed a few items, totaling $24.89 and tried again.
The card still declined.
"Let's do just the necessary items, what do you absolutely need?"
Jessica began going down her shopping list, since she'd made the list in order of necessity.
"Milk, eggs, detergent, deodorant, paper towel, toilet paper, um..." she paused. She really didn't want to say 'tampons' in front of the cute guy that was calmly waiting. "Hygiene items," Jessica said instead. "Oh, and the cat food. Fergie will raise a ruckus if I don't get her Fancy Feast."
"Your cat's name is Fergie? That's cute," the cashier said, trying to take Jessica's mind off the money problem.
"She's Duchess actually. Very snooty. But I didn't want to call her Princess. Over time, she just got the nickname Fergie, like the Duchess of York."
"That's funny. I would have guessed she was named after Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas," the guy behind her said.
Jessica wiped away a tear that slipped down her cheek and glanced at him again.
"A lot of people think that. But I'm not really a fan of funky stuff or hip hop or whatever you'd call their style."
"Oh. Yeah, I mean, they're alright, I guess. I only catch them on the radio, I don't have any of their albums or anything. So what kind of music do you like?"
Is he hitting on me? At a time like this? Jessica wondered Well, maybe he's just making polite conversation.
"Mostly Broadway and show tunes. I work in theatre."
"That's cool. Are you a performer?"
"Not as much as I'd like to be. I've been an understudy multiple times and have some very minor roles. Nothing noteworthy."
"Their loss, I'd say. You have a nice face. I bet you'd make a great actress."
Jessica blushed deeply.
"Thank you," she mumbled. "That's really sweet of you to say."
"It's true, and you're welcome."
By then the cashier had finished clearing the tab.
"Okay. We're down to the bare essentials. Let's try again."
Jessica held her breath as the cashier entered the credit card number again. The total was low enough she didn't have to enter the last three digits from the back of the card.
"Oh no," the cashier said quietly. "I'm so sorry."
Jessica didn't dare look at the keypad display to see those two judging words blinking at her again.
Card declined.
Jessica pull her face in her hands and started crying. She was at a complete loss as to what to do. This was so humiliating.
She felt a hand softly rest on her shoulder.
"It's okay, miss. Let me help you out."
Jessica sniffled and looked up at those nice, kind eyes. There was no judgment in them whatsoever.
"I couldn't ask you to..."
"You didn't ask, I offered. Here." He handed his card to the cashier. Ring up her stuff, all of it. It's on me."
"No no no," Jessica protested. "Really that's very nice of you, but that's too much."
"I insist."
"But you can't...I can't let you..."
"Sure you can. I promise, it's not a big deal."
"It is to me. Please, sir..."
"I'm no 'sir.' I'm just me. I'm Chris. Here to save the day." He flashed her a grin to emphasize the how corny his line sounded.
She could only muster a weak smile back.
"Thanks, Chris. I'm Jessica. Thank you, thank you very much. But please..." She turned to the cashier. "Please only ring up the essentials. I'll put the rest back."
"Don't worry about that, sweetheart. We'll put back the rest. It's the rules - once something has been taken off the shelf by a customer, only staff can restock it."
"Oh. Okay then. Sorry for the trouble."
"Don't apologize. This kind of thing happens more than you think." The cashier smiled at Chris. "But usually there isn't a knight with a shining platinum card swooping in to the rescue."
Jessica had to smile at that. "Oh geez, does that make me a damsel? I've never been a damsel in distress before, not even on stage."
Chris laughed. "Like I said, their loss. I think you're a fine damsel."
Jessica was so embarrassed - at everything - that she could only blush again.
Chris just kept smiling at her, his wrinkly eyes twinkling, as the cashier rang up and bagged the few items Jessica really needed.
She wanted to bolt as soon as the bags were in her cart, but she couldn't just run off.
"Look, Chris, thanks again. This was really generous of you. Please, can I get your number?"
"Are you asking me out?" He grinned again.
"Oh, god no! I mean, that's not...not that you're not really sweet and cute. Oh man, not that...aw crap, Jessica, get it together. No, I mean, so I can pay you back after I call my credit card company."
"That's not necessary. This was just me doing a good deed. You really don't need to worry about it."
"No, it's my turn to insist. You did do something really nice for me, but I'm afraid my pride won't allow a hand out. I have to pay you back."
"I understand. It's a self-worth thing. I can respect that."
"Thanks for understanding. Thanks for everything."
"Tell you what, I have an idea. How about you give me your number instead? That way I can ask you out - if that's okay - and you can pay me back then. Does that work?"
"Um, are you suggesting..." Jessica raised her eyebrows.
This time it was Chris who blushed, so deeply that he practically turned purple.
"Oh my god! No, no, I swear I didn't mean it like that!"
Jessica couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face.
"I mean I'd like to buy you dinner sometime."
"You kinda just did."
"Actually, I only bought Fergie's dinner. Can I buy yours too?"
"Sure. It's a date. But I insist that you let me pay."
"I can't allow that. A gentleman should pay for a lady's meal on their first date."
"Okay, fine. But I'll pay the next time we go out."
"You're so sure there will be a second date?" Chris smiled.
"I don't see why not. You seem pretty promising so far. And besides, if we don't go out more than once, I'll never get to pay you back."
"Fair enough."
Jessica gave Chris her number and, just to be safe, she got his number too.
She waited while the cashier finished ringing up and bagging Chris's groceries, then they walked to her car together.
"Thanks again," Jessica told him.
"You're very welcome. I look forward to seeing you again."
"Same here." Jessica rose up on her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then got into her car. She watched in the rear view mirror as Chris crossed the parking lot and began loading his groceries into his trunk.
What a great guy, she thought He pushed a full cart over here, just to walk me to my car, when he was parked way over there. I'm definitely going out with this guy a few times. I'd be crazy to let him get away.
She started her car, but before putting it in gear, she quickly texted her best friend, Sara.
"I met someone "

;) (Wink) — Description
Jessica swiped the card again.
Card declined.
She tried rubbing it on her jeans - she'd heard somewhere that the static helps.
Still declined.
"Oh come on already," the middle aged woman behind her snapped. "I have ice cream melting in my cart."
"I'm sorry," Jessica said more to the cashier than the grumpy lady. "I swear, I just made a payment yesterday. They said it would be processed as of midnight."
"Here, let me try," the cashier said politely.
Jessica handed her the card.
The cashier tried typing in the numbers. "Sometimes the magnetic strip on these just goes bad."
Card declined.
The lady behind Jessica huffed and began backing her cart out of the aisle. She bumped into another guy who was trying to enter.
Instead of apologizing or saying "excuse me" she just growled "Don't bother, buddy. Big waste of my time." She stormed off to find another open register.
Jessica wasn't sorry to see her go.
She apologized to the cashier again and glanced at the guy who just been run into.
"I'm really sorry. I don't know what to do." Her voice broke on the last word and tears filled her eyes. "Oh god, what am I going to do."
He gave her a kind smile. It created small wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He had nice eyes.
"It's ok, sweetie." The cashier gave her a sympathetic smile. "This happens all the time, don't feel bad. Look, we can take a few items off the charge and see if it goes through for less."
Jessica just nodded, afraid a sob would sneak out if she opened her mouth to speak.
The cashier patiently removed a few items, totaling $24.89 and tried again.
The card still declined.
"Let's do just the necessary items, what do you absolutely need?"
Jessica began going down her shopping list, since she'd made the list in order of necessity.
"Milk, eggs, detergent, deodorant, paper towel, toilet paper, um..." she paused. She really didn't want to say 'tampons' in front of the cute guy that was calmly waiting. "Hygiene items," Jessica said instead. "Oh, and the cat food. Fergie will raise a ruckus if I don't get her Fancy Feast."
"Your cat's name is Fergie? That's cute," the cashier said, trying to take Jessica's mind off the money problem.
"She's Duchess actually. Very snooty. But I didn't want to call her Princess. Over time, she just got the nickname Fergie, like the Duchess of York."
"That's funny. I would have guessed she was named after Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas," the guy behind her said.
Jessica wiped away a tear that slipped down her cheek and glanced at him again.
"A lot of people think that. But I'm not really a fan of funky stuff or hip hop or whatever you'd call their style."
"Oh. Yeah, I mean, they're alright, I guess. I only catch them on the radio, I don't have any of their albums or anything. So what kind of music do you like?"
Is he hitting on me? At a time like this? Jessica wondered Well, maybe he's just making polite conversation.
"Mostly Broadway and show tunes. I work in theatre."
"That's cool. Are you a performer?"
"Not as much as I'd like to be. I've been an understudy multiple times and have some very minor roles. Nothing noteworthy."
"Their loss, I'd say. You have a nice face. I bet you'd make a great actress."
Jessica blushed deeply.
"Thank you," she mumbled. "That's really sweet of you to say."
"It's true, and you're welcome."
By then the cashier had finished clearing the tab.
"Okay. We're down to the bare essentials. Let's try again."
Jessica held her breath as the cashier entered the credit card number again. The total was low enough she didn't have to enter the last three digits from the back of the card.
"Oh no," the cashier said quietly. "I'm so sorry."
Jessica didn't dare look at the keypad display to see those two judging words blinking at her again.
Card declined.
Jessica pull her face in her hands and started crying. She was at a complete loss as to what to do. This was so humiliating.
She felt a hand softly rest on her shoulder.
"It's okay, miss. Let me help you out."
Jessica sniffled and looked up at those nice, kind eyes. There was no judgment in them whatsoever.
"I couldn't ask you to..."
"You didn't ask, I offered. Here." He handed his card to the cashier. Ring up her stuff, all of it. It's on me."
"No no no," Jessica protested. "Really that's very nice of you, but that's too much."
"I insist."
"But you can't...I can't let you..."
"Sure you can. I promise, it's not a big deal."
"It is to me. Please, sir..."
"I'm no 'sir.' I'm just me. I'm Chris. Here to save the day." He flashed her a grin to emphasize the how corny his line sounded.
She could only muster a weak smile back.
"Thanks, Chris. I'm Jessica. Thank you, thank you very much. But please..." She turned to the cashier. "Please only ring up the essentials. I'll put the rest back."
"Don't worry about that, sweetheart. We'll put back the rest. It's the rules - once something has been taken off the shelf by a customer, only staff can restock it."
"Oh. Okay then. Sorry for the trouble."
"Don't apologize. This kind of thing happens more than you think." The cashier smiled at Chris. "But usually there isn't a knight with a shining platinum card swooping in to the rescue."
Jessica had to smile at that. "Oh geez, does that make me a damsel? I've never been a damsel in distress before, not even on stage."
Chris laughed. "Like I said, their loss. I think you're a fine damsel."
Jessica was so embarrassed - at everything - that she could only blush again.
Chris just kept smiling at her, his wrinkly eyes twinkling, as the cashier rang up and bagged the few items Jessica really needed.
She wanted to bolt as soon as the bags were in her cart, but she couldn't just run off.
"Look, Chris, thanks again. This was really generous of you. Please, can I get your number?"
"Are you asking me out?" He grinned again.
"Oh, god no! I mean, that's not...not that you're not really sweet and cute. Oh man, not that...aw crap, Jessica, get it together. No, I mean, so I can pay you back after I call my credit card company."
"That's not necessary. This was just me doing a good deed. You really don't need to worry about it."
"No, it's my turn to insist. You did do something really nice for me, but I'm afraid my pride won't allow a hand out. I have to pay you back."
"I understand. It's a self-worth thing. I can respect that."
"Thanks for understanding. Thanks for everything."
"Tell you what, I have an idea. How about you give me your number instead? That way I can ask you out - if that's okay - and you can pay me back then. Does that work?"
"Um, are you suggesting..." Jessica raised her eyebrows.
This time it was Chris who blushed, so deeply that he practically turned purple.
"Oh my god! No, no, I swear I didn't mean it like that!"
Jessica couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face.
"I mean I'd like to buy you dinner sometime."
"You kinda just did."
"Actually, I only bought Fergie's dinner. Can I buy yours too?"
"Sure. It's a date. But I insist that you let me pay."
"I can't allow that. A gentleman should pay for a lady's meal on their first date."
"Okay, fine. But I'll pay the next time we go out."
"You're so sure there will be a second date?" Chris smiled.
"I don't see why not. You seem pretty promising so far. And besides, if we don't go out more than once, I'll never get to pay you back."
"Fair enough."
Jessica gave Chris her number and, just to be safe, she got his number too.
She waited while the cashier finished ringing up and bagging Chris's groceries, then they walked to her car together.
"Thanks again," Jessica told him.
"You're very welcome. I look forward to seeing you again."
"Same here." Jessica rose up on her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then got into her car. She watched in the rear view mirror as Chris crossed the parking lot and began loading his groceries into his trunk.
What a great guy, she thought He pushed a full cart over here, just to walk me to my car, when he was parked way over there. I'm definitely going out with this guy a few times. I'd be crazy to let him get away.
She started her car, but before putting it in gear, she quickly texted her best friend, Sara.
"I met someone "