Gingerbread House Take 2

Following up on yesterday's plan to pick up another gingerbread house kit, I popped into the market after that morning’s workout.

While there, I quickly found the Elf, once again nestled in with other holiday items, partially hidden in a boat.

Seeing a mini house kit on sale, I purchased one for my next try at a build, a second one for the White Elephant Gift.

At sale price, I had to add something else to reach the $10 threshold Red Light wants. I chose to add an Ugly Sweater Cookie Kit.

So that’s killing two birds with one stone — a kit for myself to try, a package of two kits for the White Elephant Gift party.

Also, while there, I saw some little chocolate bars dressed up as $100,000 Santa bills.

Having a feeling I’d not seen the last of Talker’s granddaughter, that she’d be knocking on my door to give me a hug sometime in the future, I picked up a bar as a treat for her.

Heading to the checkout stand, the plan after paying was to stop by the Security Guard’s station, tease him about how wired … out there … off tha hook the young lady he was talking to when I entered seemed — the young lady who interrupted her conversation with him to loudly say to me, "Wow! Look how cute you are!"

As I’d entered the market, I observed the young lady talking to him — the Security Guard.

Unlike the former security guard that gave me inappropriate looks that made me so uncomfortable that I switched markets, this security guard presents as nice, normal, non-flirtatious and I’ve often seen him chit chatting with customers — both male and female.

On this particular day, the customer chatting him up was a young lady who looked quite cute wearing army fatigue top, fatigue leggings, braids in a bun over her head, with an afro hair wrap.

So here I was thinking she was cute and probably flirting with him, when she suddenly looked my way, interrupted her conversation with Security Guard, and loudly exclaimed, "Wow! Look how cute you are!"

"You’re cute too" said I and continued on my way.

At my age, it’s nice get a compliment but I really wasn’t looking any different than any other regular day, so I thought the compliment, especially spoken with such exuberance, was odd.

I figured something was wrong with her.

While in the market, I ran into the young lady once more.

She came up behind me and, as she passed looked back at me and said, "I remember you. You’re banging!".

"Banging" for you slang novices means looking great! terrific!

Reading her high energy body language, I became certain she was high, was on something.

So, the plan when leaving was to tease Security Guard about his girl being wired, but I never got the chance because, when I saw her heading for the exit door, say something to the Security Guard as she passed him, I saw a surprised look on his face and his eyes follow her as she walked through the exit door.

Another customer was exiting behind the young woman, whereupon Security Guard left his station and used the excuse of helping this second customer push her cart through the door.

Ostensibly, so he could see where the young lady was going no doubt.

THEN, after Security Guard helped the second customer through the door, I could see him hold the door open, look around outside, look back at his station as though he was having second thoughts about what he was about to do, then he continued outside.

Guess he saw what he’d been looking for — that young lady and was weighing his choice to go back to his post or go get her number before she left the lot.

He totally left his station.

Dereliction of Duty.

Abandoned his post to chase tail.

I suppose you all know what "tail" is slang for, LOL.

He had not asked anyone to take over while he left and had not returned by the time I left the market.

Would have been a good opportunity for shoplifters to get away scot free.

Once outside, I didn’t look too hard, but didn’t see either of them on the lot.

On another note, it was a good thing I followed my instincts and picked up those chocolate bars because, along about 4:00 this afternoon, there was a knock on the door.

Guess who wanted to give me a hug.

Looks like I’m going to have to keep some little treat on hand at all times.

NEWS FLASH: I heard from Red Light that decorating cookies is one of the activities for Friday’s White Elephant party.

All of a sudden, the gingerbread house kit and ugly sweater cookie kit don’t sound like such a good idea.

What do you think?

Is it too redundant?

NEWS FLASH: Two hours after the first knock on the door there was another.

Yes, it was she again. This time Talker's grandaughter had a gift for me — a flower she'd probably plucked from somewhere on the property and said, "I love you".

Nice, but WTF?!