He glanced to make sure there were no cars passing by. Instead of cars there were people. He made no eye contact with the woman and her child and the stranger man walking behind her whom he let pass into the market. He was happy to carry his kindness on to the man who was coming from inside the building. An employee pushing a cart of customer orders directly to their cars. He waited until the employee made his way out, and once he did his words were I thought so. The man looked confused, but he smiled at the employee. He walked inside as if nothing took place while he replayed the employee’s words in his head. I thought so. What scenario would require a man to tell another those words? Threatening words, no? They were threatening. He patiently allowed the man to pass with clear and noticeable intention. He made no wrong gestures. He said no words. He waited there with no unpleasant expression on his face. With his kindness he was rewarded a threat. He walked on. It did’t matter.

   I thought so. Mint Chocolate chip. No. Pecan. No. Cookies and cream. Yes. I thought so. Why did he say that? He grabbed the cookies and cream tub. The man next to him took out his ear bud. Sorry? The man shook his head. I was just talking to myself. The man nodded and put his ear bud back in. He got what he came there for. His breath felt slightly heavier than before he entered the building. Chips. Something sweet needed something salty. The isle was filled with people. He was trying to get through and the ones in the way didn't have intentions of moving aside. He excused himself as he squeezed through in his growing annoyance. His hands reached for a bag of chips and he made no eye contact with anyone once he grabbed his bag and left the isle with an impatient demeanor. I thought so. He looked at the bag to see what he grabbed. When he looked back up he forgot what he just saw. He pinched the tip of the bag with increased force. He looked at the ice cream and bag in his hands briefly and looked around as if to remind himself to grab anything else he needed before he left. There were footsteps behind him too close for his liking and he stepped aside and let the footsteps move along. The woman looked at him with cautious eyes and carefully passed him and he began in his slow pace again. I thought so.

   There was something missing in his hands and he did what he could to remember. He scanned the isles that passed him and there was no memory that sparked answers. If he walked on maybe the idea would come to him. He thought of no idea that hinted he needed another purchase. I thought so. There was a face he remembered. The one he’d been thinking of the entire time. He searched in his pocket. It was small, smooth, and present just like he left it. I thought so. He picked up his pace. Why did he say that? There was no reason for him to say that to me. I let him pass. A baby started crying. Make it shut up. He went over to the self checkout screen that was open. He scanned the ice cream and the bag. He took his card out and after he swiped he took the receipt and the items. He held the receipt so she could see it and her nod moved him on. It was only ice cream and a bag of chips but his arms felt heavy. I thought so. I thought so. There he was. He exited the doors and the employee caught eyes with him. The ice cream hit the ground. The bag crunched on the floor. His hand exited his pocket. I thought so huh? What’d you mean by that? On the ground flowed the dark red wine from the employee’s opened neck. He lay on his side watching it. The man made no eye contact with the voices and screams. He walked on to his car. I thought so.