The Shopping List
By ssaltman
It was a rainy Wednesday afternoon when Maya stepped into the grocery store. The kind of rain that falls in sheets, the kind that seems to settle into your bones even after you step inside a warm place. She shook off her umbrella, making the tiny beads of water scatter onto the linoleum floor. The store was nearly empty, save for a few elderly shoppers who moved slowly, their carts humming along the aisles.
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Maya wasn't in a hurry. She had just finished a long day at the office, and after two hours of trying to ignore the dull ache in her feet, she needed to pick up something for dinner. She wandered through the aisles, picking up a carton of eggs, some spinach, and a loaf of whole-grain bread. But when she reached the canned goods aisle, her eyes caught something.
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It was a can of coconut milk. But it wasn’t just any coconut milk—there was a picture on the label of a tropical beach, bright blue skies, and a wave crashing against the shore. Maya’s mind immediately drifted to a vacation she had never taken. The image was so striking that she reached for the can instinctively.
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And then, she bumped into someone.
“Sorry!” she exclaimed, stumbling backward.
“No, no, my bad,” a voice responded quickly, followed by a soft laugh.
Maya looked up to find a guy about her age standing in front of her, his arm stretched out as if to catch her. He had a slightly messy shock of dark hair, a smattering of freckles across his nose, and a smile that was both apologetic and amused. He was holding a jar of peanut butter in his hand.
“Sorry!” she exclaimed, stumbling backward.
“No, no, my bad,” a voice responded quickly, followed by a soft laugh.
Maya looked up to find a guy about her age standing in front of her, his arm stretched out as if to catch her. He had a slightly messy shock of dark hair, a smattering of freckles across his nose, and a smile that was both apologetic and amused. He was holding a jar of peanut butter in his hand.
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“Are you okay?” he asked, stepping back.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“No worries, I should’ve been paying attention. Can I help with the coconut milk?” he offered.
Maya hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Actually, yeah. I’m not sure if this is the best brand. I don’t cook with coconut milk a lot.”
The guy tilted his head, eyeing the can. “I’ve never used it either. I was just getting peanut butter.” He glanced at his jar, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “I feel like I should be making something more complicated than a peanut butter sandwich, considering all the other things I’m buying.”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“No worries, I should’ve been paying attention. Can I help with the coconut milk?” he offered.
Maya hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Actually, yeah. I’m not sure if this is the best brand. I don’t cook with coconut milk a lot.”
The guy tilted his head, eyeing the can. “I’ve never used it either. I was just getting peanut butter.” He glanced at his jar, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “I feel like I should be making something more complicated than a peanut butter sandwich, considering all the other things I’m buying.”
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Maya couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes, I go all out—other times, it’s like… cereal for dinner.”
“Cereal’s underrated,” he said, his smile widening. “But I feel like today’s one of those days where I should probably eat something a little more... well, real.”
They both looked at their carts for a moment, then at the empty space between them. The quiet of the store settled in for a moment, the sound of soft footsteps and the distant hum of the freezer section.
“Cereal’s underrated,” he said, his smile widening. “But I feel like today’s one of those days where I should probably eat something a little more... well, real.”
They both looked at their carts for a moment, then at the empty space between them. The quiet of the store settled in for a moment, the sound of soft footsteps and the distant hum of the freezer section.
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Maya broke the silence first. “What are you making with the peanut butter?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, I was planning on toast, maybe with some bananas. But now I’m thinking about coconut milk... you know, I could make curry with it.”
Maya smiled, her curiosity piqued. “You cook?”
“Sometimes,” he admitted. “I’m still figuring it out, honestly. I’m not exactly a chef.”
“I think that's the best way to learn. Trial and error,” Maya said, running a hand through her hair.
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, I was planning on toast, maybe with some bananas. But now I’m thinking about coconut milk... you know, I could make curry with it.”
Maya smiled, her curiosity piqued. “You cook?”
“Sometimes,” he admitted. “I’m still figuring it out, honestly. I’m not exactly a chef.”
“I think that's the best way to learn. Trial and error,” Maya said, running a hand through her hair.
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He chuckled. “Definitely. So, what are you making with your coconut milk?”
She thought for a second. “Probably a soup or something. I don’t know yet. Something cozy. It’s one of those rainy days, you know?”
He nodded, his smile widening. “Rainy days are the best for soup. Feels like the universe is telling you to stay inside and make something warm.”
“Exactly,” she agreed. “And the best part is, no one can stop you from watching Netflix all night.”
They both laughed again, and there was something in the air, an unexpected ease. Maya found herself more comfortable than she had expected to be with a stranger. Maybe it was the rain or the soft hum of the fluorescent lights, but she felt like she could keep talking to him forever, even if it was just about peanut butter and soup.
She thought for a second. “Probably a soup or something. I don’t know yet. Something cozy. It’s one of those rainy days, you know?”
He nodded, his smile widening. “Rainy days are the best for soup. Feels like the universe is telling you to stay inside and make something warm.”
“Exactly,” she agreed. “And the best part is, no one can stop you from watching Netflix all night.”
They both laughed again, and there was something in the air, an unexpected ease. Maya found herself more comfortable than she had expected to be with a stranger. Maybe it was the rain or the soft hum of the fluorescent lights, but she felt like she could keep talking to him forever, even if it was just about peanut butter and soup.
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“I’m Ben, by the way,” he said, holding out a hand.
“Maya,” she responded, shaking his hand, her smile still lingering.
“Well, Maya,” Ben said, as if testing her name out. “If you end up making that soup, I might need the recipe. I’ll trade you for a peanut butter banana toast. Or, you know, I could just keep buying stuff I don’t know how to cook with.”
Maya grinned. “Deal. I’ll text you the recipe. It’s really simple, but it’s all about the coconut milk. I’ll even throw in a suggestion for the best toast toppings.”
“Maya,” she responded, shaking his hand, her smile still lingering.
“Well, Maya,” Ben said, as if testing her name out. “If you end up making that soup, I might need the recipe. I’ll trade you for a peanut butter banana toast. Or, you know, I could just keep buying stuff I don’t know how to cook with.”
Maya grinned. “Deal. I’ll text you the recipe. It’s really simple, but it’s all about the coconut milk. I’ll even throw in a suggestion for the best toast toppings.”
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They stood there for a moment, unsure if it was the end of the exchange or the beginning of something new. The rain beat against the windows, a quiet reminder of the world outside.
“Okay,” she said, almost laughing at herself for feeling suddenly shy. “I’ll see you around then. Maybe.”
“Okay,” she said, almost laughing at herself for feeling suddenly shy. “I’ll see you around then. Maybe.”
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“Maybe,” Ben echoed, his voice light but sincere. He gave a small wave before turning to walk away, the sound of his footsteps blending with the steady rhythm of the rain.
Maya stayed in the aisle for a few moments longer, her heart oddly light. She glanced down at the can of coconut milk in her hand. It wasn’t just about the ingredients anymore. Maybe, just maybe, she was making something a little more exciting than soup tonight.
When she checked out, there was a small piece of paper tucked inside her shopping bag. It was a grocery list, written in neat handwriting: Bananas. Peanut butter. Curry spices.
Maya stayed in the aisle for a few moments longer, her heart oddly light. She glanced down at the can of coconut milk in her hand. It wasn’t just about the ingredients anymore. Maybe, just maybe, she was making something a little more exciting than soup tonight.
When she checked out, there was a small piece of paper tucked inside her shopping bag. It was a grocery list, written in neat handwriting: Bananas. Peanut butter. Curry spices.
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At the bottom: Text me the recipe. :) – Ben
Maya smiled, tucking the paper into her pocket.
Maya smiled, tucking the paper into her pocket.
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