Did You Know?

A short story about communication with an automated cashing machine.

I open my computer just after half three in the afternoon, and read that my daughter wants to return the tablet I lent her, and she has already watched the six Star War movies recorded in that device. She comes to me, and I give her my old tablet enveloped in bubble wrap, tied with garnet ribbon. We decide to go for a walk even the temperature is nothing but zero Fahrenheit.

"How clear and bright", I shout outside. I didn't take my camera with, but I want to take some photos, so I quickly fetch my mobile phone. After walking about 400 yards, there is a spot to shoot some wintry images.

Fluffy snow on rowan branches. Sky painted with pastel colors. Last rays of the sun at the top of a frozen fir. "Look, there is a jay!" I shout, and we both are so happy that we saw the motionless bird, saving energy and not even turning its head.

I tell her about the encounter with the ducks and drakes of the river I had the other day.

We chat about this and that as we walk, heading towards the super market. My beard becomes white as the breathing frosts, and her cheeks become red, as the blood circulates so well.

Soon we find ourselves sitting in the corner table of the café. Resting a moment before fetching a tray with tea for her, and coffee for me, and a lemon quark-cream pie with strawberry sauce for both. Laying that down on table I say: "Happy birthday". I so much enjoy this quality time together with my daughter.

I wish I also had more time with my elder daughter, who studies in another town far away. I hope we all three could go for a pizza when she cames back home next time.

Then we go to fetch some rye bread, which is located in the farthest corner of the huge store. I find three big loafs at 30% discount. Feeling sweaty, we had a 550 yards walk inside the store, and now I am paying the breads using a self-service cash automate. It starts amusing me, as the automate begins to talk when I press the start button. It is a female voice. I ask her with a heightened voice: "Can I get more discount for these breads because they are for the ducks and drakes of the river, and these birds are hungry and freezing? Did you know?"

The supervisor of the automates sits on a high chair about 16 feet away, and starts giving me instructions, as I need them. Where the bar code reader is located? I do know how to put the breads on the scales already, so the automate does not need to remind me every time. How do I pay? "Press the O.K. button" the supervisor says. After all done, the machine says: "Thank you for your visit. Welcome again." And I respond with a larking voice: "Thank you, it was nice to do business with you". The supervisor smiles widely, and we all say: "Cheers".

I accompany my daughter close to her home, my eye glasses are frozen, so that I barely see. We stop at the cross road, waiting for a car slowly passing by, and I see its lights surrounded with circular rainbows, wondering if I could take a photo of them. "We'll have a walk again soon, bye bye".

I stop once on my way back home and take a photo: The moon and fir in retrograde.

Author's Note

I write the source text in Finnish , and then translate into English in order to advance in writing . I hope to get constructive feedback on my writing , thank you , smiles