doors slid s

y against the polished linoleum floor. She didn't wander. She didn't br

live chat was buzzing with anticipation. Everyone was waiting for her

She reached out and grabbed exactly six boxes

them into

ampoo. Finally, she walked to the refrigerated section and grabbed four cartons of eg

er index knuckle as she mentally cross-referenced the

e pushed the cart up

m. Brenda's eyes dragged slowly up and down Anabelle's muddy sh

box of toothpaste and dra

e

digital display lit up. T

Beep

Viewers were placing bets on how fast the secu

nts," Brenda said, her voice flat and b

ly steady. She reached into her pocket and pulled out t

e rewards account with this card," Ana

unched the keys on her register, pulling up the

count, the register chimed. The new membe

en dropped instantly

pulled the crumpled newspaper clippings from her pocket

facturer coupons

each toothpaste

ing the coupons. She s

Beep

Brenda stopped chewing her gu

anging right above Brenda's head. "The store promotion says buying

d the printer. A long strip of receipt paper

oupon off the machine herself, a

to this tr

" Brenda snapped, h

le recited, her voice dropping an octave. She sounded exactly like an obsessive couponer who had mem

k slightly as she s

e chat froze. Millions of people sto

pon. Two manufacturer compensatio

ompensation vouchers can be stacked with store markdowns,"

ped one of the vouchers. She picked it up, her b

out a loud, angry

l screen f

DUE:

ilent. The cameraman forgot to focus the

nda's hands shook violently as she manually keyed i

rred to life, spitting

. She took the receipt, shoved the eggs and

Genius exploded, hitting the number

un hit her face, warming her freezing skin. The corners o