Meeting Jack S.

No photo for this story for obvious reasons…

Finally Met Jack S.

by: Howard Eskildsen

We went to Costco for a regular shopping spree and afterwards had a hotdog and drinks at their food court. My wife left to use the “girl’s room” while I remained at the table finishing my hotdog. I became aware of a rather plain-looking lady perhaps in her mid to late 60’s seated at the next table facing directly my direction, but we made no eye contact. A shopping cart full of groceries was by her table; a man walked away from it and was gone for a few minutes.

A couple of used meal wrappers were on the table beside the lady, and she was slowly eating some ice cream, almost as if she were saving some for her husband. A short time later, a pale, scrawny fellow with a thin mustache and scattered strands of hair clinging to an otherwise bald scalp came by, and without a word he picked up one of the empty food wrappers and headed to the trash with it. The lady quickly grabbed the rest of the used napkins and wrappers, held them out and said, “Jack, here” and then again, “Jack!”

With a frustrated expression she shrugged her shoulders and raised her hands in exasperation. She picked up the rest of the refuse and walked to the trash can with it. In the meantime, Jack came around from behind me, took hold of the cart and headed to the entrance without so much as a word to her. She then hurried off to rejoin him, though by that time I wasn’t sure why she would want to. I can only imagine what sort of “discussion” might have followed.

As I pondered the scene, I was reminded of the times I have heard people say: “You don’t know Jack…” Next time I hear that I will be able to reply: Yes, I’ve met Jack, and he really is a Schitt!