My local supermarket seemed busier than usual. This may have had something to do with it being Christmas season (though I have yet to conduct scientific research into this matter). The point is it was very busy because only three of the five checkout counters were in use. The long lines had begun to interfere with the free flow of shoppers through the supermarket: Something had to be done…

A new checkout counter was about to open, and when that happened I wanted to be first in line…