A fond memory-
So far my favorite store is the Price Chopper in Pocahontas, Arkansas. The girl running the register at the checkout is Brooke.
“My day is going just awful, how’s yours,” said Brooke. Her greeting seemed more out of habit than genuine concern. She looked 17, round face, and an all-about-me attitude.
“Is this community named Pocahontas after the Indian Pocahontas,” I asked.
“No,” said Brooke confidently, then…. “Who’s Pocahontas?”
It kind of cracked me up.
“Where are you from,” questioned Brooke.
I told her the Milwaukee area, and was met with a blank stare. “Wisconsin,” I said.
More meaningless wide-eyed, gum chewing.
“I biked here from Dallas and I’m headed home to Milwaukee,” I said.
“On a bike? No, you’re not,” said Brooke with a very matter-of-fact tone.
I bit my lower lip so I wouldn’t laugh.
Brooke tipped up on her toes and glanced over the checkout counter to look at my legs. Like I’d have ‘On Wisconsin’ stamped on my knees. I left Brooke and went to consult another clerk about the park by the river.
“Hey, what’s the name of that park by the river,” said the clerk who turned the question back on Brooke. “Blackfoot River Overlook,” said Brooke. Who followed quickly with, “I just made that up, I have no idea,” she said.
Brooke was fast on her feet, but probably not the best resource for increasing tourism in Pocahontas, Ark.