… were all stocked up here. - Jack Nicholson, As good as it gets.

A crazy guy was talking loudly in the supermarket, today. On the outside of the till line, he ranted to the queueing customers about the disgrace of not having a girlfriend, pacing left and right, making broad gestures as he spoke. I know girls only like strong guys with great bodies, he said, but I’m sensitive, intelligent and cultured. I write poetry and I even have a blog, on some-unintelligible-blog-address-dot-com! And still, no women will even look at me!

This was almost true. His audience was indeed ignoring him. Everyone, including the supermarket staff and security guards, kept minding their own business, looking sideways, pretending he wasn’t there. Everyone but the old lady behind me. And when he mentioned he was depressed, she snapped and started talking to the crowd as well.

- Depression, that’s a terrible thing - she said, shyly at first.
- All my friends are getting married and having kids- he complained on the other side, not even noticing her.
- A breakdown could happen to anyone of us - she went on, louder, shaking her index finger in the air.
- And why haven’t they introduced me to their female friends?!
- You never know! - she warned, vaguely.

At this point I was wondering if something was wrong with the air. Was it contagious? Who would be the next person snapping?

My phone rang, and my friend, on the other side of the line, started going nuts over something silly I wrote on an e-mail. Because of all the supermarket noise, I had to shout back to be heard.

- I felt sad because I was stood up that night! - I heard my self saying too loudly.
- All I want is love! - moaned the guy.
- It’s all the government’s fault! - added the lady.

I paid and got out of the supermarket as quickly as possible. Outside, I took a deep breath of fresh air. I had just escaped Twilight Zone.