Rita, Mary and Debbie (that’s me) often have lunch in the hospital cafeteria.  No, this story isn’t about bad cafeteria food.  It’s about where you are in line to pay for lunch and how your choices affects life experiences.

Rita and I were minding own business, grabbing a tray, salad, soup, sandwich, drink, etc.  There were two cashiers.  I stood in the shorter one and watched Rita leave the line I was in and walk over to a table.  My eye wandered back to the front of my line to a woman who was dressed in a black fancy dress and heels.  She was very thin and looked frantic as she searched her purse for what I assumed to be money to pay for lunch.  She was also engaged in an angry conversation with the cashier, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying, since there were three people between us.  The line wasn’t moving so I moved to the other line behind two other people.  I paid for lunch and walked to the table Rita was at, passing the woman who was still in discussion with the cashier.  I noticed there was a lot of food on her tray for one person and wondered if she was not able to cover her bill. 

Right after I sat down, the woman passed our table.  Rita looked frazzled.  The woman sat at the table furthest from us.  I was about to say something when I noticed the woman was heading towards us like as if her pants were on fire. 

 

“HERE!!!”  she bellowed at Rita, throwing a $10 bill at her.  “The cashier said that was how much your meal was.  That should cover it.”  She turned around and walked back to her table.

“I didn’t realize I was cutting in front of her.”  Rita said. “I didn’t think she was in line.”

Then the woman appeared out of nowhere.

“That’s Karma for you.”  and she walked away again.

“Wait!” I quietly called after her so she couldn’t hear me.  “I think I cut in front of you, too – twice.”  I was hoping for a $20 bill to fly in front of my face
 
Mary came into the cafeteria a little while later and sat down between us.  Rita told her what happened. 

“Well, there’s your lunch money for tomorrow,”  Mary said laughing.

As if she had heard Mary laughing at her, the woman got up, picked up her tray and started walking over towards us again.  I was hoping for more cash, but instead ….

“Take that.  You can bus my tray.  HAH!”  and she was gone – thank goodness.

The woman at the next table, who was in front of me in the cashier line, said “I would never want to mess with her.”

Mary picked up the woman’s tray – which was still had most of her food on it -shook her head and said “Let’s just hope we don’t see her again.”

Truthfully, I’d like to have someone throw some money at me, wouldn’t you?
 
Oh, how’s Cindy?  The same.  Sitting in a chair, breathing on her own, watching daytime TV, and waiting for the breathing tube to be removed.