Anger in Home Depot

Fiorella went out on a quick trip to deposit a check to the bank and pick up tub of chlorine tablets for the septic tank. The deposit went smoothly, and Fio was even rewarded with a sucker (which she graciously declined), but the stop at Home Depot was a nightmare. The store has been going downhill in the last couple of years--it can't seem to keep employees and the new ones (mostly low-paid retirees) don't seem to know  their way around the place, even though they're armed with cell phones.

Fiorella was first directed to the garden area, where she dutifully walked up and and down the aisles, growing angrier by the minute. Nothing to do but try to snag one of the employees walking the floor, but that was a blog in itself because there were so few of them. Finally, her prize having been lassoed and hogtied, she was able to explain her mission.

Her captive employee checked his phone and led her to an area that carried similar products--but they were for flowers rather than septic tanks. Then he led her back into the main building and down the rows to the aisle that he was sure would hold the product--but it didn't. The space was empty and, as he discovered by checking up on his cell phone, had been so for the last six weeks and probably would remain so for an indeterminable length of time.

"Must be a shipping problem, " he muttered.

Fiorella gritted her teeth. "Guess I'll have to drive into Austin to get chlorine tablets."

He shrugged.

What could she do but stomp out of the stupid store, casting baleful glances at all and sundry along the way, then get in Baby Car, and zoom home? For fifteen years, she and Husband have faithfully plunked two pellets of chlorine into the septic system at the beginning of every month, and now Fiorella can't even buy them!

Damn!