Pokémon No
I work in a large grocery store. Most of the checkout areas have the usual impulse purchase areas. In our store, this includes playing cards, like Pokémon.
A woman walks in with a young boy, maybe eight or nine years old. Both look well-dressed and covered in designer labels, the boy especially.
It takes me a few moments to notice, but I spot the boy grabbing every pack of Pokémon cards from each checkout lane and tossing them into a basket held by the woman. And I do mean every pack. He’s even checking behind card packs from other games to make sure he hasn’t missed any.
Since I’m working at the end lane, they get to me last. The boy does the same in my lane, clears out all the Pokémon cards, and tosses them into the basket. There must be easily two hundred packs in there by this point.
The duo approaches me, and the boy barks an order at the woman.
Boy: “Ask her!”
Woman: “Do you have any more Pokémon cards in the store, other than at the checkout lanes?”
Me: “We have a video game section at the back. There are more cards there.”
Boy: “Ask her where it is!”
Woman: “Where in the store is that located?”
Me: “If you walk to the back and turn left, just past the eye center.”
Woman: “Thank you.”
The boy is already power walking at the back, chastising the woman for not keeping up.
They come back with what must have been every pack of Pokémon cards left in the store. The boy once again barks:
Boy: “Ask her!”
Woman: “Do you have any more in the back?”
Me: “Uh… no. Every pack is on the shop floor. If you got them from the video game section and all the checkouts, then that’s every pack we sell.”
Woman: “You’re certain there will be no more left?”
Me: “Not until we restock.”
The woman looks at the boy, and he gives a ‘whatever’ look and waves her away. She gets out a credit card.
Woman: “We’ll take them all.”
I start scanning the packs.
Me: “Wow, your son really likes Pokémon, huh?”
Woman: “Oh, he’s not my son. I’m one of his nannies.”
Boy: “You are not to call yourself a nanny! That makes me sound like a baby! You are an assistant!”
Woman: *To me.* “Sorry, I’m one of his assistants.”
Me: “Is it, like, his birthday or something?”
Woman: “No, just a normal day. He found out they released a new set of rare cards, and he really wants them. He also wants to make sure no other kid in his school can get it, so he’s buying them all up.”
A few moments pass in silence, with the boy looking impatient with how long this is all taking. I scan the last pack.
Woman: “What’s the total, please?”
Me: “Uh, well that’s three hundred packs at $4.49 each, so that’s $1,347… plus tax.”
She hands over the card as if it’s nothing.
Woman: “Thank you.”
Boy: “Hurry up!”
Woman: “We’re hitting up the bookstore next.”
Boy: “We need to go before they sell any! Hurry!”
Woman: “Yeah, I’ve been told by his parents that I’m never allowed to tell him no… so… wish me luck?”
They both leave, the woman carrying the bag heaving with Pokémon booster packs.
Coworker: “Did they just spend more than my monthly rent on… Pokémon cards?”
Me: “Yup. Apparently, the little prince always gets what he wants.”
Coworker: “Hmm, looks like we have a future President in the making right there…”
