TWENTY-TWO

"Abby, can you drop me off at the grocery store instead? I need to pick up a few things," Lyra said.

"Sure thing, Lyra. I actually need to grab a few things too, so I'll come with you and then drop you home," Abby replied.

"Okay, great.," Lyra said with a smile.

Abby pulled over to the side of the road, and Lyra stepped out of the car and stretched her arms. It felt good to get out and stretch after being cooped up in the car for so long.

Lyra quickly checked her purse to make sure she had everything she needed before stepping out of the car.

As they walked towards the store Abby's phone rang. She quickly answered it, holding her hand up to Lyra to indicate that she needed a moment.

She picked it up and said, "Hello?" idly sticking her free hand in the pocket of her trousers.

She heard snippets of Abby's conversation, but couldn't make out the details.

Abby was talking in monosyllables and her facial expression showed that she wasn't happy with the conversation. Lyra waited patiently for Abby to finish, not wanting to interrupt her.

Abby sounded agitated and kept saying "I know, I know, I'll be there as soon as I can."

Abby sighed and put her phone back in her pocket. She knew she was in trouble, but she had promised to take Lyra home.

She turned to Lyra. "I'm sorry, but something's come up and I have to leave. I won't be able to do the grocery shopping with you."

Lyra frowned, concerned. "Is everything okay? Do you need any help?"

"It's nothing that serious, nust that these guys can be overdramatic at times, so I want to head there as soon as I can. I'm so sorry though…. Abby said.

Lyra smiled and said, "Don't worry about it, Abby. I'll manage. Take care of yourself."

Abby nodded, saying, "You go ahead and finish up here, and I'll see you later," and got back into her car. As she drove away.

Lyra entered the grocery store, pushing a cart in front of her. She had a list in her hand and looked determined to stick to it. She browsed through the aisles, carefully comparing prices and searching for the best deals.

"Let's see, I need some milk," she murmured to herself as she stopped at the dairy section. She scanned the shelves, finally choosing a gallon of milk that's on sale.

Moving on to the produce section, Lyra checked the prices of various fruits and vegetables. She selected some carrots, broccoli, and bananas, making sure to choose the ones that were within her budget.

As she made her way to the cereal aisle, she noticed a new brand of oatmeal that she hadn't tried before. She picked it up, reading the label and considering whether to buy it or not. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to put it back on the shelf, reminding herself to stick to her budget.

Lyra continued to shop, taking care to only select items that were within her means. When she finally reached the checkout, she carefully placed each item on the counter, watching the cashier pick it up and scanning it using the barcode reader. The beep sound echoed each time the scanner read the barcode, indicating that the item has been registered for purchase.

As the scanning continued, the cashier was also engaging in small talk with the customers, asking them about their day or making comments about the weather, despite the long queue of people waiting to pay,

"How much is it?" she asks, mentally calculating the total in her head.

"Your total comes to $32.48," the cashier replied.

Lyra nodded, handing over her debit card to pay.

The cashier then placed each item in a plastic bag, making sure to separate fragile items from heavy ones. The cashier was working quickly and efficiently, without making any mistakes. She seemed to have a good knowledge of the prices and where each item should go.

****

As she walked out of the store with the bags in her hand, a middle-aged woman approached her with a flyer.

"Excuse me, miss. Have you seen my dog, Gomez? He's been missing for a week,” the woman said.

Lyra took the flyer and looked at the picture of a small, scruffy dog.

The flyer was simple, with the words "Missing Dog" written in bold letters at the top. There was a picture of a scruffy-looking dog in the center of the page, and Lyra could tell that the dog was a small terrier mix. The dog had a wiry coat that was mostly white with brown patches on its head and back. Its eyes were bright and alert, and it had a friendly expression on its face.

Lyra could also see that the dog was older, probably around 5 or 6 years old. There were a few gray hairs around its muzzle and ears, and its face had a wise and gentle look to it.

“Aww, Gomez is so cute,” Lyra squeaked, but then added, “I've not seen him though…. but I'll keep an eye out. I hope you find him soon," she said, putting the flyer in one of the grocery bags.

"Thank you so much, miss. I really appreciate it. Call the number on the flyer if you see him, it's my number," the woman said.

After handing Lyra the flyer, the woman walked around the parking lot and nearby streets, asking anyone she came across if they had seen her dog. Some people took the flyer and promised to keep an eye out, while others ignored her or simply shook their heads. Despite the woman's persistence, she didn't seem to be having much luck in finding her beloved pet.

Lyra watched as the woman approached several groups of people, desperately asking for their help. She could see the sadness and desperation in the woman's eyes, and it made her feel terrible for her.