I.

A welcome back discount offered by a
Grocery delivery/pickup service prompted
The opportunity to stock up on some basic
Essentials: dry goods and frozen produce.

Oh, why not.

A phone bleep and preview banner notified
That the personal shopper will begin gathering
The items ordered for drop off later in the
Afternoon as scheduled.

No substitutions, please.

The delivery time chosen provided enough
Leeway for a baldy haircut, a bathe and a
Shave; that was the plan.

Better get a move on.

A lathered jowl, razored partially--for
Stubble, a smoothness check was conducted
Visually and by fingertip touch.

Another phone bleep accompanied the banner,
Which slid, disappeared from the screen, the
Message hidden.

Why did the shopper try to contact me?

The message from a bot(?) communicated
That the order had been canceled--no
Reason why.

Canceled? Spontaneously canceled!?

The immediate speculation, an extraordinarily
Busy day; an incredulous thought, being a non-
Holiday season--the guess was unfounded.

An automated email confirmed the cancellation,
And stated that a refund would be processed
Within five days.

An automated email confirmed the cancellation,
And stated that a refund would be processed
Within five days.

Well that's good.

A gentle glide under the jaw towards the chin--
An aloe lubrication band preceded the triple-blade.

A siren reminiscent of an amber alert interrupted
The clean shave; misguided, the gunk-clumped razor
Snagged on untaught skin.

Yow!

Flesh-wound blood briefly distracted attention away
From the message that appeared on the locked screen,

"Out of an abundance of caution, don't drink the tap
Water," or something to that effect, "beginning at 2pm."

The time was one, thirty-five--better get chugging!

The joke was lost considering this was, more or
Less, a risk management emergency!

Danger looming, finished mustache/beard grooming;
In the attempt to dress quickly, lather smeared inside
The shirt pullover--the face rinsed and toweled, belatedly.

II.

Shared with a house-ridden parent, the public safety
Announcement about the water contamination.

See you soon.

The phone in one hand, the wallet was grabbed with the
Other; both were put into an EDC ready bag; keys located,
The coat put on, alarm set, went!

Unlike defensive driving to work, the speed limit was
Observed with ease along the route to the local market
Car park, which was fuller than normal; a calm
Apocalyptic excitement permeated throughout the lot.

A hatch-back opened, the trunk loaded, a friendly
Gesture welcomed the emptied cart removal.

Through the sliding doors, customers pointed that way,
Over there; an employee asked how many cases; the
Number mentioned did not match the hand-indicated
Amount; the audio, not the visual was confirmed; the
Checkout line survey question was:

Cash or card?

III.

On the Interstate, the car headed to the matriarch's house;
A steering wheel button was pushed to accept the incoming
Call via the Bluetooth-paired phone; she asked for an
Additional surplus given the potential of an
Extended contamination.

A chemical spill the span of a flowing river determined
The length of the line outside a big-box food-plus depot;
The queue progressed as swiftly as a panicked gastropod.

A membership card was displayed for entry to the
Warehouse; fluorescent yellow-vested employees provided
Crowd control; cordoned lanes within the aisles funneled the
Flow of shoppers toward their intended purchase.

A voice questioned a satisfied customer heading in the
Opposite direction, if there was plenty available; the hesitant
Reply, fearing of a free-for-all, became more confident when
An electric forklift engine whined and the vehicle's safety
Backup alarm sounded.

I believe there is.

IV.

At the childhood home, the car was unloaded; cases of
Shrink-wrapped pint bottles were taken into the house
And placed in a room that did not allow direct sunlight;
Several pints were shelved in the kitchen refrigerator.

Shrink-wrapped pint bottles were taken into the house
And placed in a room that did not allow direct sunlight;
Several pints were shelved in the kitchen refrigerator.

V.

A few days later, the crisis was averted; tap water was
Deemed safe for drinking.

The foregone, chemical contaminants expunged--what
Remained, a reminder to recycle plastic containers.