Two places I've visited very recently. The contrast helps me understand myself (having grown up in the Ozarks) and why folks and some social interactions over the years have seemed too brief.
Going into an empty chocolate shop in Austin Tx:
Store clerk: "May I help you?"
Me: I need to pick up a gift for a coworker. I forgot the gift I got at home. My boyfriend says your lollypops are the best.
SC: "here's a box of assorted ones, would you like a sample?"
Me: "sure. What's the pricing on these"
SC: Dark or milk chocolate sample? Small box is $10, large box is $19
Me: Dark, thank you. I'll get the small box for the work thing and the large box for my boyfriend. Do you have any gift bags.
SC: Yes, right over there.
Me: I'll take one.
SC: Is that all?
Me: Yes.
SC: Thanks I'll get you checked out.
Going into an empty chocolate shop in Eureka Springs:
Storeclerk "good morning, how are yall?"
Me "oh doing pretty good and you?"
SC: "my car wouldn't start this morning so I had to call my boyfriend who had his boss's brother drive down the hill to give me a ride. If I lived at the top of the hill I'd just roll my car and coast until the battery charged! Let me get you a free sample of every kind of chocolate we have."
Me "That's rough! Glad you made it to work! The last time my car's battery went out was when I was grocery shopping and stocking up on frozen foods. Luckily the fifth friend I called was close enough to give me a ride because nobody at the grocery store had any jumper cables"
SC: "here's you some chocolate samples, ain't it all good? I can't decide which I like the best. I never thought I'd move from North Carolina and end up here working at a chocolate shop except that my second cousin caught cancer and my aunt lost her place during Hurricane Katrina."
Me: "Oh my gosh is your second cousin okay? Did you have to take care of her and your aunt? That sounds awful."
SC: "No, it was just a mole that had to be burned off. My aunt didn't want to go thru another hurricane again so she bought a trailer on a few acres of land up in Bentonville after her old neighbor's granddaughter helped get her a job at Casey's Gas Station. I came down here to help her build a back porch on, and while I was staying with her I met my boyfriend off one of those phone dating apps, and he lived out here... so I quit my job waitressing and packed up my bags last June and moved down here to be with him. Do you think that was moving too fast? Where did you say ya'll from?
Me: Oh gosh no I think every relationship has its own pace. I once dated a guy I met off Tinder for six months, he ended up having alcohol issues and there are just lines you don't cross. I'm from St Louis... but my folks used to take us on weekend trips and then I'd take daytrips myself to just walk around when I got older... This really is the best town in the Ozarks! I told myself this year that I was going to take more trips, and I can drive here and stay here on a budget and it reminds me of the best of that part of my life! OMG these chocolates are amazing! I can't decide if I like the bubble gum or orange flavor the best.
SC: We see folks from all over round here. I'm always curious how people in St. Louis know to come down this way. I'm so sorry I just realized that I forgot to give you a sample of our special chocolate covered pecans. Ain't it a gorgeous day out? What else do you have planned?
Me: I was thinking of getting coffee after this and maybe eating chocolate for lunch.
SC: Oh that's a good idea! Maryanne's coffee shop is right around the corner... But you need to watch your blood sugar. My boyfriend's aunt got diabetes real bad from eating too many sweets and it was so hard for her to cut back. Her downfall was fudge, because she'd make it and then get real bored and eat it. I still don't think she's over the loss of her pet chicken.
< other customers come in >
Me: that's really sad... well since it looks like I'm buying three of each kind of chocolate squares you have, 1/2 pound of every kind of chocolate covered pecans and walnuts ya'll have... I'll think about getting diabetes some other day! This is so delicious and I don't have enough friends to give these chocolates to.
SC: Aww thanks for the compliments - I help make the squares every Thursday at 5am and the recipe was passed down from the owner's fourth cousin's once removed's exwife - they say she was a Unitarian and that Unitarians don't have any good candy recipes! Here's an extra 1/4 pound of the cinnamon pecans. Thank you and enjoy your lunch and the rest of your stay here!