Just One Cornetto?

We’re heading towards a checkout counter at Tesco when I begin to feel a bit embarrassed. I’ve just glanced into our shopping trolley and noticed that it’s not one of our most “proud to go to the counter with our healthy food” days – there isn’t a cucumber or lettuce leaf in sight. In fact, there isn’t as much as usual in the trolley (we’re trying to cut down) but what is in there nearly all came from the freezer cabinets. Well, it is a hot day.

“The man at the checkout will think we’re addicted to ice cream,” I whisper in Chris’s ear as we arrive at the counter.

Chris smiles. He’s not at all addicted to ice cream. I was the one who filled the trolley.

“Hello. What a lovely hot day!” says the forty-year-old at the checkout as we begin to empty our trolley onto the moving surface of the counter.

“Ah,” I think, “he thinks we’re ice cream addicts.”  I’m glad Chris is with me so I don’t look a desperate addict on my own.

The two packs of Raspberry Smoothies beep past the scanner, then the Mango Smoothies (another two packs – cheaper by the twos), then the Mango and Yogurt Ices (Home brand but very acceptable) followed by the gluten-free strawberry cones (for health freaks).

“You must think we’re addicted to ice cream,” I say sheepishly.

“I don’t care too much for ice cream myself,” replies the assistant.

“They aren’t all for us,” I say, “we’re expecting visitors.”

The box of six fruit flavoured water-ices are about to reach the hand of the checkout man when we are all distracted by a man’s voice.

“Hello!” beams a young man whose face is not completely unfamiliar to me but I can’t place how I know him.

The young man seams to know me. He is walking up to me. He is standing next to me, expectantly. He looks like he wants me to greet him with a kiss. What the heck! I give him a kiss on the cheek and it dawns on me how I know him…

When shopping in Tesco a few weeks ago, and Chris was perusing items in a different aisle, I heard two men talking about a girl with a “beautiful smile”. Fascinated, I went to the end of the aisle and popped my head around to see who they were talking about.

“That’s her!” said the young chap.

I had thanked them with a wave and carried on shopping… once I had got over the pleasant surprise. Well, he was no Brad Pitt but it’s still nice to be appreciated by a much younger man.

“I remember you,” I say to the young chap I have just kissed.

“Where’s my kiss?” asks my husband.

They have a man-hug and we’re all laughing, including the man at the counter.

“I think I’m going to start eating lots of ice cream from now on,” says the checkout man theatrically.

And he scans a pack of Double-Chocolate Cornettos (half price), which I know Chris will enjoy even though he isn’t an ice cream addict.

“Just one Cornetto, give it to me. Delicious ice-cream from Italy….” Remember the adverts? My admirer probably isn’t old enough to remember.