Checkout Girl

CHECKOUT GIRL

She works at the local supermarket:
A young checkout girl.
(She's been there for five years)
Quiet:  I'd say she's friendly 
Though on occasions
She appears lost 
In her own world.

She scans each item one by one,
Slightly smiling.  She is patient.
I packed my bags that day
With my shopping; paid
Next to a small hand sanitizer station.

Two days later a customer
Asked her "How are you?"
She was on the till and did not reply.
Possibly he thought her rather rude
As she carried on scanning:
He had not seen the sign.

She's deaf you see
And this is why
She did not respond when asked.
She lip reads remarkably well,
But now everyone around her
Wears a blue face mask.

MDC. April 2021