The Goodies

How did they get there?

Hyperconscious of the 22 pounds he lost in 45 days, Dylan took a trip to the store, knowing full well what he could and couldn’t buy. While his wife was at work, he’d drop in, pick up a few things and be back before his lunch break was over. Most on his to-buy list was nonfood items such as baggies, tooth paste, and soap. He figured he’d succumb to a few aisle-end items. After all, he wouldn’t want to disappoint the marketers who were paid large dollars to display such items. The store he went to was a low budget, bag-your-own store that required you to deposit a quarter so you’ll return the cart. Pay for your own bags too. Everything was cheaper that way.

The cashier, Todd, rang everything up and it came to $17.77.

“Odd,” Dylan thought. “Seems high.”

Nevertheless, he got home with eight minutes to spare on his lunch break so he unpacked the goods when he noticed an unusual box of treats in his bag.

Peanut butter wafer bars.

“How in the world did they get there?” he said out loud.

Since they were there on the table – and it would be too much hassle to return them – the box was open and a package was breached before he even checked the calorie count: 300 calories for a package, and there were six packages in the box.

“Yikes! But how’d they get there?” he asked again, going through the store visit in his mind.

As he chomped away at one of the bars, Dylan sat at his computer contemplating The Case of the Sugary Goodies.

“Great,” he said. “What am I gonna tell Leeza? She’s on this diet too.”

Dylan didn’t have long to think about what he’d tell her when the garage door opened and she announced her presence.

“Dylan James!” Leeza said noticing the package on the kitchen table. “I thought we made a pact not to bring entire boxes of junk into the house.”

He rushed out of his office and said, “Leeza, I wish I could tell you how that box got into my bag at the store, but I can’t. I’m genuinely stumped.”

“So it just jumped in there on its own?”

Dylan said, “Ya got me, Leeza.”

“And do I see wafer crumbs all over your shirt.”

“Now that I’m responsible for, but how that box got into my cart and into my bag without me noticing it will remain one of life’s greatest mysteries.”

Leeza looked at the packaging. “300 calories? And you’re eating them?”

“Guilty as charged. You want the other one? Pretty good actually. I didn’t eat the other.”

“Of course. But you’ve got to promise me no more. We’ve done pretty good without all that junk food.”

“Trust me, Babe, I know.”

“Any other food surprises I should know about?” asked Leeza.

“Not that I’m aware of\,” Dylan said. “Let’s hope not at least.”

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