Express Lane is a relative term

There are certain jobs you don't hire certain people for. For instance, you wouldn't hire a Mormon to be a bartender, would you? Sure, they'd be friendly enough, but when it came down to knowing the product they were serving, they become a wee bit handicapped. You wouldn't hire the Amish to sell computers, either.

When you are in retail, you need to have a basic grasp of your products for sale. Sure, there are always new employees who need to learn more specifics, but generally people apply for occupations that they are comfortable with, have an interest in, or have some experience in that field. Trainees usually aren't thrown into the deep end of the pool either if that company wishes them to properly represent them. You start off slow and work your way up in accordance with your increased knowledge about the job and the product.

So it was with great amusement that I observed a young man prove my point in the check-out line of the local supermarket.

There was a lady in front of me who was placing her items on the conveyor and in her myriad of consumables was a ginger root. The young man grabbed it, looked it over and then set it aside. He'd scan a few more items and then eye the root again with consternation and curiosity. Eventually the poor chap ran out of items to scan and was forced to confront the issue. Again, he grabbed it, studied it, turned it over and over in his hand. His expression grew pained.

"Excuse me, Ma'am, is this a potato?"

"No," she replied, a glimmer of mirth in her tone. "It's ginger."

"Uh, oh." He eyed her suspiciously. "I thought that was a powder."

Now you could see that the poor boy wasn't a day over sixteen and nervous. I have nothing but patience and understanding for trainees as most of my professional career consisted of training.

But you don't put the new guy on the Express Lane on a Saturday afternoon (of course, why I subjected myself to the grocery on a weekend is beyond me...).

I am so glad I decided against grabbing that jicama root...