I am a frequent shopper at my local Safeway store. I shop for things like milk, cereal, and frozen pizzas. When I get to the checkout line, I am usually so busy getting out my cards and punching in pin numbers that I don't take much notice of the checkers themselves, with their polite smiles and weary greetings. But one day, as I stand in front of the keypad typing in the cashback amount, I hear a voice that somehow catches my attention. "How's it going?"

I look up, and see a very pretty girl looking at me, smiling just a little. She is a courtesy clerk, busily stuffing my groceries into bags. The courtesy clerks don't normally talk to me. I am slightly caught off guard.

"Uh, fine," I reply, and finish typing in my numbers. When the transaction is finished, the courtesy clerk hands me my bags and makes steady eye contact. "Have a nice day," she says, or something like that. Her eyes are blue. Her hair is light brown and arranged creatively. I am pretty sure I have never seen her in this store before.

I mumble something in response and walk out of the store feeling curious and a little uneasy.