I went to the hardware store to get a couple of tools for a project and rang up some paint, tape and furniture rollers.
Everything went smoothly. I chatted a bit with the cashier while waiting for the paint to mix and exchanged some job talk, as we’ve both worked in the trades.
Pretty normal so far. I pay for my stuff, and put the roller in my side pocket and give it a pat, out of habit.
The painting tape goes in my other pocket, and I give it a pat, and I grab the paint.
He hands me the receipt, and having no space left, I shove it into my back pocket while turning to walk out.
My hand goes a bit too fast, and I accidentally slap my booty so loud it reverberates throughout the store.
My cheeks are still jiggling as I look back and lock eyes with the cashier. He saw it. He heard it. I just loudly spanked my own ass in front of this dude and he’s staring back with a look of profound confusion.
I skedaddle the fuck out of there, cheeks red. I can never return.
I think the poetry of this final line is executed perfectly, the fact that both cheeks (face and ass) are possibly red in this scenario and the reader is left to interpret which one the author is currently talking about really speaks about society and the way we interpret our own reactions to events afterwards. Excellent, just excellent.