Shopping

Tescos here I come. Another day, another shopping trip. I love going shopping with M. M loves to take me.

I knew she was going. I heard her ask D if he could look after me. He couldn’t. He rushed to his computer and said he was doing some urgent work. Sometimes I think she doesn’t want to take me but that can’t be right. I am a very useful shopper.

So M and I went off to the big shop. What fun.

I saw the security man as I went in. I’ve met him before. And the ladies at the customer services desk. And even the manager. I know them all. I think of them as friends.

I waved at the security man. He gave me a little wave back. He looked nervous. Maybe he was having a bad day. Too many burgers stealing the sausages.

M put me in the trolley. In the seat. If you can call it that. These seats are not made for toddlers. They are too hard and there is no padding. If they were comfy, I might have had a snooze. But they are not and I didn’t. There is no way toddlers are going to sleep in those seats. And what are we meant to do? There is no TV or book or crayoning set. Nothing. All I can do is stare at M's tummy or help M shop.

I saw a shop assistant. I haven’t seen her before. I smile at her. She smiles back.

I stay in the seat for the first aisle. It is a bit dull. I cruise past nappies, toothpaste and stuff like that.

Then we start the real shopping. Shelves with jars, bottles and bags. Lots of great shapes and colours. And most are just within reach.

I pick the high things off the shelf and put them in the trolley. I don’t need M to tell me what to pick. I know what we need. M sometimes picks things out of the trolley and puts them back. She forgets what we need.

I get bored in the seat. I climb out. I walk by the trolley. I can see things better. I look for green things. M is very keen on green things. I can usually find three or four before M notices.

I spot something in the row next door. I rush off. I grab the pack and head back for the trolley. But the trolley has gone walkabout. Never mind. I spot another pack on the row next door. It is better than the first so I put the first one back on a shelf. It stands out a bit.

I wonder where M is but not for long. There’s lots for me to do. I pick another bag. And one more. I could do with the trolley. I put one bag on the floor. And another quite close. And one a bit further away. Then I spot another bag and head for it. I take it from the shelf. It is hard work shopping. I decide to have a rest. There is a step across the aisle. I wander over. It has things on it. But not for long. I push them off and sit down. Amongst the boxes and bags of tea.

The nice assistant spots me. She comes over, picks me up and takes me on a trolley hunt. We find it with M attached. M looks worried. The shopping can’t have been going well. At least I am back to help.

M put me back in the seat. I check the trolley. To see what we’ve bought. There are somethings we don’t want. It’s a challenge to reach them but I manage it. I would place them on the shelves but I can’t reach. So I drop them. Some people shop till they drop. I shop to drop.

Our trolley steers round my bags. I would have picked them up but you don’t really want bags when they have been on the floor. I look over at the tea section. There are boxes all over the place. Tescos should keep their shop tidier.

I add some extras to the trolley. A nice surprise for M at the check out. I remember the little things she’s forgotten. I would remember the big things but they are too heavy.

M accelerates past the sweets. She can’t have seen them. I shout and then a scream. She stops, recognises her mistake and we go back for a few packets. We head off. I grab a few more.

I spot the crisps. Another shout and scream and the crisps are in the back ready to go.

We head for the till. “I can’t cope anymore” M says. I don’t know what she means.

I wait while M unloads the trolley at the till. She’s busy so I have to entertain myself. I wander off looking for those last minute items which make the difference between an average shop and a really good shop. I find an orange. But I drop it and it runs away. I give chase. It rolls near the stack of beans. I go to get it and nudge the beans. I look at the beans. The beans look at me. One wobbles, falls and chases the orange. It makes quite a noise for a can of beans. I look up. The security man is stood there. He looks grumpy. I smile. I give him the orange and then the can of beans.

I see the nice assistant again. My new friend. She picks me up. I take the orange back from the security man. He can keep the beans. It might make him happy. Beans means fun. The assistant takes me to see the customer service people. I always like to see them before I go home. I don’t know how she knew.

“I see Anna is here again” the manager says. All my friends in one place. Then I hear my name over the speaker. “Will Anna’s mum please collect her again?”

M arrives with the shopping. Her cheeks are red. She keeps on saying sorry. I don’t know what she’s done but it must be bad. I leave with her and turn and wave to the staff. I smile at the security man. As I go, a smile crosses his face. M and I head home. Both happy after another good shop.