After hovering around the frozen section trying to meet somebody's eyes with hers but to no avail, she wondered over to a promotional end-cap, picked up some peppermint holiday cookies, and shuffled over to the check out line.

She knew she was in the right place.  These Trader Joe’s people were paid to care.  She stood in line with her peppermint cookies looking at all the other people who, like her, seemed to have a purpose, at lunch hour, on a weekday.

When it was her turn to pay, Sierra felt herself in the spotlight as the check-out lady was interested in how she was doing and what kind of bag she wanted.  Sierra was no longer alone in the world trying to make conversation with her furniture.  Someone cared.  And, it was this Trader Joe’s paid employee who was well trained in people skills but not time management.

Sierra could feel the people in line, waiting, looking at their watches and back at her.  She knew this was her moment to shine.  Sierra began to tell Marla - for she read that on her name tag - a story about her favorite childhood memory when she visited her grandma who she called “Gums” as a little girl in Texas...