Behind her, a man wearing a camouflage baseball cap released an exaggerated sigh.
Someone farther back in the checkout line muttered, “This is ridiculous.”
One of the two infants strapped against the woman’s chest was crying desperately, his little face bright red.
She looked at me with trembling lips.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Could you take the diapers off the bill?”
I glanced at the register.
She was short exactly $8.42.
Eight dollars and forty-two cents.