Micro Fiction Monday: Stubborn

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you, uh...did you need any help?”

I huffed as I shifted the weight of the dozen or so books in my arms. Behind my massive stack was a girl, wearing a blue t-shirt and a staff lanyard around her neck. She was staring at my books, a basket extended hesitantly towards me.

I smiled. “No thanks, I’m good!”

She blinked and nodded. “Alright. Sure.” It took her a moment before she moved on, still glancing over her shoulder as she went.

The line in front of me shifted, and I shuffled forward to follow. A Shakespearean play slid uneasily on top, and I nudged it back into place with my forehead.

Another staff member—this one a guy, with his hair slicked back into a bun—walked past, before doubling back. He looked my selection up and down and cocked an eyebrow. “Did you want a basket?”

“Nope!”  I said, ignoring the quivering protest of my arms. “I’m okay, thanks.”

He opened his mouth and took a breath. “Really,” I said. “I’m fine.”

He shook his head and moved on.

The line moved once more, keeping in pace with the eternal wait time that had been prevalent all afternoon. I could see the front, now, along with all four frazzled and exhausted cashiers. When it was my turn, I shuffled forward and dropped my load onto the counter with a crash.

The cashier looked at the books, then back up at me. “We charge $2.95 for bags,” she said flatly.

I hesitated, staring at my books in contemplation. Finally, I sighed. “Do it.”