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"I first got married at 17,"

said the cashier, as she dragged
my stuff's bar-codes across
the mysterious prone mirror.

I didn't know what her forearm's
tattoos represented. To me
they stayed abstract &
so I liked them very much.

She continued: "He was a sweet
guy but not very smart." "You,"
she added, "saved 20 dollars
on your groceries today."

"Thank you very much," I said.
"Of course!" she said--which seems
to be what people say now
instead of "You're welcome."

hans ostrom 2025