Shopping with Sins

After finishing my hyper specific list, I was allowed to escape to bed. Please, let Reed manifest a body so he leave me be! Reed was relentless. My shopping list not only had estimated prices, but tax included. I set my alarm, ensuring another upbeat pop song would follow before I fell asleep. Sleep was so underrated.

I thought Sunday would an easy day at work… I lied to myself. Everyone and their mother was calling. Heck, their mother's sister was calling too! Donna barely had a moment to spare for my questions as she averaged 3 minute calls for almost the entire 8 hours I was working. It was the first time I ate alone since Donna was caught up in another call. Erika came to check on me, then had me shadow how she ran insurance in batches using Athena.

That was the easy part, going back to see why they didn't verify was the fun part. She had more tabs for insurance verification than I had for podcasts. Calling, faxing, emailing, voice mails all for patients being seen the following week… I felt like I'd left my brain behind as Erika snapped orders.

"Uhh, says! Umm, pending!" I called from her spare laptop.

"Did you check if the Tricare was east or west coast?" Erika asked without looking up.

I glanced, "Uhh, I… didn't. I'll rerun it now." Fuck! I'd completely skipped the tiny box… meaning the last two minutes of my life had wasted both our time.

"Follow the guide Max. Follow the guide, follow the guide. I can't do this all month. I have meetings with other facilities I'm supposed to be in. As soon as we get a new insurance verifier in I shouldn't have to spend six hours a day teaching you how to reed. If you can't remember, highlight the pictures." Erika stated tersely.

My gut clenched, "Yes Ma'am." I said flipping the insurance binder to the Tricare Prime page. I was looking right at it, as I refilled out the boxes, I made sure everything matched the pictures before I ran the primary. They had three dependents I would have to run after. Their was an audible sigh.

"Max, this doesn't get any easier. Also, make sure to keep an eye out for the return faxes. If they get picked up for sorting you'll never find them. That means another fax, that means more waiting. These patients all have appointments tomorrow. Keep running the Tricare Primes, and watching for the return faxes. until you leave today. Build muscle memory. You can do that from your computer. Use my log ins. Tomorrow we'll… community and Medicare." Erika said scribbling on a note pad.

"Yes Ma'am." I said accepting the sticky note. I returned to my computer to do as told. My stomach clenched as I bit my lip. The flow sheets had freaking pictures… every single step was highlighted, circled, arrows… even someone who didn't have training should have been able to follow it without help. I took a deep breath, then set a fifteen minute timer to check Erika's fax machine.

I wasn't really in the mood, but I had my shopping list. Rather than putting it off, I did need to pick some stuff up.

Milk $6.25 a gallon. Ten pound bag of potatoes $2.50. Coffee filters $1.85. Bunch of bananas $.95. A head of broccoli $3.25.

I glanced around, my apples of choice weren't in… I stared at the fuji and pink lady apples. I preferred pink lady… but fuji were cheaper. I reached for the bag of apples $7.99 when I heard a voice that nearly had my jumping out of my skin. I glanced around to see the rabbit doll… in my hoodie! How I had not noticed it?!

"That's twice the price on your list. You've allocated $3.50 for three pounds of apples." Reed stated as he snuggled into my neck. I never realized how ticklish I was!

I glanced around, "I uhh, I don't like fuji apples, and they uhh, don't have loose pink ladies." I whispered glancing around.

"We only have $50 for this week. As it is, we're going to be over because of taxes. The only reason we added the crunchy peanut butter is because we took the extra money from the supplies fund." Reed reminded looking at my list pointedly. His ears were brushing up against my neck making me shiver.

"Uh, I can, umm, cut back on the cauliflower this week." I whispered pulling my hood up as some glanced at me.

"We need the cauliflower as our vegetable side, and snack for lunch this week." Reed reminded.

"Vegetables are filling, cauliflower is versatile, fuji apples with peanut butter will almost taste the same." Tony whispered.

I stared at the toddler seat of my cart… seriously? "I uhh, I mean… okay." I muttered putting the pink lady apples back. I glanced over the fuji apples… found a 2.5 bag for $3.25. I turned to the cauliflower to see the guard looking me over. I flushed, bowing my head as I grabbed the largest head then scurried away. I now had five dolls in the toddler seat of the car.

I quickly grabbed the items that were set, peanut butter for $5.66, chunky blue cheese dressing $3.50, $.65 seasoned salt, and lastly soy sauce for a whopping $26.60.

"The soy sauce is more expensive than we saw online. We're over even more than expected." Reed whispered from my hoodie.

"Soy sauce is a need for rice dishes. Even the fried rice was kind of plain." Tony complained but didn't move. I glanced around… where was Ace? I glanced at my keychain… not there.

"If we add taxes, our total is going to be over $63." Reed stated matter of factly.

"I uh… could… get a smaller bottle…" I offered looking at the half gallon option. Thankfully, I was taking the bus back today.

"We're paying two thirds the price for half the product. It's not worth it." Reed sighed comparing the prices.

"Uhh, I can grab the gallon, then revise my supply list for tomorrow." I added with a sigh, "Ugh, I'll have to check prices around town… or maybe… I can add some water to the half gallon to make it last longer…" I mused looking between the bottles. To be honest rice wasn't something I usually ate. I still didn't have a rice maker, I'd used a pot.

"Ahem, you okay kid?" I almost leapt out of my skin shooting up. My head hit the handlebar of the cart.

"Ouch!" I groaned turning to see the security guard again… talk about embarrassing. "Uh, yeah, uh, sorry, did I uh? Umm, uhh, yeah.

"Talking to someone on the phone?" The older guy asked, his hand wasn't on his baton… but it was close.

I flushed, "Uh, sorry, I uh, budgeting… you know?" I asked standing up as I tried to not rub my aching head.

"Ah, gotcha. Just try to keep your voice down." He said then walked away as I heard his walkie talkie crackle.

"Uh Sue! I mean, sure! Sorry!" I called waving as he left… then I leaned over the cart handle… ugh…omg! I glared at the dolls in my cart, "Look at what you guys did! He probably thinks I'm crazy!" I hissed without raising my head.

Reed just patted my cheek. "Either way, this is an unexpected price hike, we should still grab the gallon. Like you said, we'll have to revise our shopping list for tomorrow."

I groaned, grabbing the gallon of soy sauce, then found the check out lane furthest from the security guard. I kept my head bowed as the glared at the dolls that were still sitting in my cart. I found Ace sleeping in my reusable shopping bag… I wanted to die of embarrassment as the bagger lifted him out with a raised brow. 

I escaped to the bus stop without a backwards glance. I squatted down, face still flushed red. Ugh!!!! Headphones!!! I need headphones!!!! At least then I could pretend to be on a call with a roommate or girlfriend!!!