I am standing at the checkout counter of a
grocery store. There, swaying on the taunt string to the music
of artificially cooled air is a balloon. Inside that balloon are
millions and millions of tiny particles dancing a chaotic dance
obeying dogmatic laws we have not yet created. Each stead fast
in its direction until it meets another. Then, in an instant,
sometimes gently, sometimes with a smash, their path is forever
changed. This locomotion plays on and on even after the tiny
little specs of elemental mud escape the bondage of their world
the balloon.
"$18.72"
I look down from the universe of bouncing
helium to the somewhat plump face of a young lady.
"Your total is 18.72"
I smile and pull out a one hundred-dollar
bill and lay it on the counter. As she takes the cleverly
designed piece of legal tender I notice a slight scar on her
hand and wonder what group of confined particles did that. And
why.
"Do you have a food lion card?"
"I do. Somewhere. I am just not sure
where."
She takes her card out from under the
register and rings it in. Electrons fly their way and make a
-.79 appear on a little black screen in front of me.
"Your total is 17.88."
"Thank you." I smile and she
smiles back. I gather my bags and leave.
Sometimes the change in direction is
little. Sometimes big. But the particles keep going on their
merry way.