went to the store today. had been tasked with the purchase of cranberries for christmas dinner. first 2 stores didn't have them (a christmas staple?!) so i finally went to safeway.
walked into safeway, made my way to the produce section.
no cranberries. goddammit. but just as i was about to leave, the guy stocking the carrots moves slightly, and i see cranberries. oh happy day i am a good offspring. i go and immediately start picking up bags. produce guy turns to me, no hesitation and says
"You know those are fake cranberries, right?"
i freeze - panic? what do you mean fake cranberries? have i never had a real cranberry? has my mom never had a real cranberry? have we been eating tofu cranberries? can i not tell the difference between real and tofu cranberries? have i failed as an offspring? devastated. he waits like a second before continuing
"Nah I'm just kidding, you just looked like you really needed those cranberries, you were so excited."
thank you safeway produce guy for keeping my existential crisis to a single second. genuinely funny. i purchased six bags of cranberries and nothing else.