How Green Becomes Wood

"Oh, no, thank you, I can manage," Tristan said quickly. He glanced at Daizi. Oh, hang it all. "Actually... if you don't mind getting that small package for me? The blue brand there, but not the giant package."
 
"It is no trouble," Dark assured him, getting the paper and holding it for a moment, "This is your cart?"

"You would not believe how frequently he is asked to get something from a high shelf," Daizi said, gently rocking her own shopping cart from habit, "I get asked on occasion, then it's very amusing for both of us."
 
"Yes, this is my cart," Tristan confirmed. He glanced at Daizi and chuckled. "I imagine it would be quite a laugh! And confusing for the person asking." He glanced at his scribbled list and frowned when he realized he'd missed something two aisles back. Annoying. He could never get the list organized right.
 
"It is not my first choice, but it is what was left," Tristan admitted. He glanced at his list. "Only a few things left. I forgot something and will have to backtrack, I'm afraid. Hopefully, the frozens will keep themselves together long enough for me to get through this challenge." He started to turn the cart but overestimated the effort needed and accidentally bumped into Daizi's cart. It wasn't too hard, but it was noisy. "Sorry. Sorry."
 
Daizi stepped back at the noise and Ivy fussed slightly, reaching out towards her mother, "It's okay, Hummingbird, it was just an accident!"

Watching this unfold, Dark scratched his beard, thinking deeply.
 
Blushing deeply, Tristan cleared his throat before trying again and managing a wobbling line away from Daizi's cart. "Apologies. I don't often drive this thing. I didn't mean to scare Ivy. I'll just be on my way that way..." He trailed off, his focus taken up in the effort of getting the cart to not turn into the shelves. Most of his items were piled on one side, making the cart natually lean to one side instead of go straight. He did not get far fast, but he was slowly making progress.
 
"I suppose it would give us time to talk as a family," Tristan said, finding a way to agree to this. "We do not actually get much time to just talk. Walking through a store might lend that time."
 
"This is true, unfortunately for poor Mr. Dark," Tristan smiled. "The children still ask about you. Sometimes I say I haven't heard anything. Other times, I make up little tidbits for them." He indicated his list to Dark so they could compare where they needed to go, commenting how he'd accidentally passed one of the items he needed.
 
Tristan glanced sidelong at Dark, wondering if he was reading too much into Dark's offer. It seemed like a good idea, he supposed. "Would there be an issue keeping our items separated?"
 
"I do not believe so, it does not seem we have many items which will be on both lists." Dark said, looking over Tristan's cart. If you are concerned, we can use the diaper bag to separate them."
 
"Well, I suppose it would be better to have a better driver at the helm before I knock a bunch of glass off the shelves," Tristan admitted, trying not to sound grudging. It would be incredibly helpful not to have to deal with the cart, but it was also awkward to accept this kind of help.
 
"It's just that I'm not the best at knowing where I'm going," Daizi said easily while she helped consolidate their various shopping, "It's so hard anytime I'm shopping with friends and there are multiple shopping carts with how narrow aisles can be." That wasn't true, but she lied easily.
 
Tristan relaxed a little at Daizi's words. "Hmm, this is very true." He helped move his items over into Dark and Daizi's cart. "The aisles are very narrow. I'll push my cart over where it will be more out of the way." He did so, tucking it as far out of the way as he could.
 
Back
Top