The Grocery bill

The three entered  the grocery store with a trolley and started to throw grocery into it. Monica, who had always been spiteful, kept throwing whatever expensive product she could find into the trolley when Tanya wasn't looking.

Barry noticed what she was doing and kept quiet. For the first time he realised that Monica was a fake friend. She must be holding a deep grudge. Aya, Tanya's other friend must be her only true friend then, Barry concluded.

Before Tanya could notice, the trolley was already full of grocery. She knew that monthly grocery would normally fill the trolley, but it was too early. She hadn't even walked half the grocery departments yet. "Um…Barry, please get us another Trolley."

Barry did as told and came back pushing a second trolley. He surrendered it to the ladies and pushed the packed trolley in silence. When they were done shopping they headed to the tills. 

Nervousness filled Tanya's face when she saw the amount of grocery she had picked this time. 'Would the amount I have be enough to pay for all?' she doubted. 

The cashier rang up all the items on both trolleys and the bill read $6026.07.

"Oh my…" Tanya squealed as she stared at the small screen. She turned to Monica and attempted to ask for help but Monica turned her head and pretended to be looking outside the store. The words had failed to leave Tanya's mouth and she quickly thought of a way out.

"Um...Barry-"

'Wow!' Barry thought, 'had she finally decided to ask for his help?'

"Please lend me your cellphone let me call up mum," she nervously said, biting her lips, feeling embarassed.

The cashier pouted in dissapointment glaring at the time on her watch.

"I don't have any airtime, Monica do you perhaps have any airtime?" Barry tested her to see how far she would go with her antics. 

Surprisingly, Monica replied, "Yeah, but it's in your car." 

'What? Had she refused her cellphone too?'

"It's okay, I'll wait right here. Why don't you guys step outside to make the call." Barry suggested, and the ladies hurried out to the car. 

The cashier was frustrated with the situation and Barry thought it was funny. 

"Hey! Here, swipe the card for the payment?"

She took the card and sized Barry up, noticing how cheap his clothing was- she frowned and said, "Mr, it's almost time to knock off and you and your friends have already wasted too much of my time. Are you trying to play a joke with me? If you had money why didn't that lady ask you to pay then?"

The manager of the store heard the cashier as she strode around the till area conversing with customers. She hurried over to learn what was going on. "Jody, what's going on?"

"Mrs Lancaster, this man here came with two other ladies. But they failed to pay the bill for this transactions. So they went outside to make a call for someone to transfer them money. Now this guy who is with them is now claiming to want to pay the bill on their behalf. When they were here he wasn't interested. I think he is a fraudster. Here is his card, please check if it's legit."

The manager took the card and turned to look at Barry contemptuously. "Mr, why didn't you pay the bill earlier? This is indeed suspicious. I'm sorry but as part of our policy we will have to check the validity of the card. May you please give me your identification." 

Barry did not respond but simply handover his driver's licence to her. The manager took the licence and verified it's ownership to the name of the person on the card. She sturdied it intently and suddenly her eyes lit up when she realised it was the black mastercard. She glanced at the card again before she looked back at Barry. 

"Mr Jackson, I apologize for this inconvenience. You can make the payment now." The manager handed the card to the cashier and said, "swipe the card. Why are you asking a thousand useless questions to our very important and distinguished clients? Do you want to lose your job? Foolish girl."

The cashier trembled with shock as she attempted to swipe the card for the payment. Her face red with ambarrassment. It was like a ton of bricks had landed on her head when the transaction was successful without a glitch. 

"I...I'm sorry sir for the way I acted. Please take your grocery. Would you like me do push your trolley for you to the car?" She said handing over the till slip and the card to Barry. 

"That won't be necessary."

Just as Barry was about to push the trolley out, Tanya walked back in with Monica. They had seen the cashier give Barry his till slip and officially giving him the grocery. Their eyes were widend in disbelief as they saw Berry pushing the trolley out. 

"Barry, what's going on here?" Monica asked surprised.

"Oh, you ladies came back? The bill has been settled. You can go home now." The cashier was smiling as she addressed them and sat down to help other customers.

"Alright let's go," Barry said.

"Wait a second, who paid for the grocery Barry?" Monica questioned holding Barry's trolley back.

"EVERYONE TO THE GROUND RIGHT NOW!"