I’m at Trader Joe’s buying groceries for the week, and the free-sample counter has little plastic cups of cornbread with corn-chile salsa. I take one. A male employee talking to an older woman nearby suddenly drops his voice, as if the person they’re talking about just walked by. They both turn and look at me as I take a second sample cup of cornbread and pop it into my mouth like a Jell-O shot.
Originally published as “The Routine,” April 2019 in The Sun.
Wonderful story–I don’t read some stories to the end because I don’t care enough to take the whole trip. But this morning I just sat down–in the middle of the morning!–and read your story. And even more unusual, I am writing to tell you so. Thanks!
Jacob Aiello 
Wonderful story–I don’t read some stories to the end because I don’t care enough to take the whole trip. But this morning I just sat down–in the middle of the morning!–and read your story. And even more unusual, I am writing to tell you so. Thanks!
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Thank you so much for reading, Rachel! I’m humbled!
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This was good, too.
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