4 June 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3124: it’s in the other aisle

Rarely did Capt. R.E. Ludlow not do the shopping for the family simply because buying for 10 people was heavy work from Mrs. Thalia Ludlow, and also, there was a pandemic – too analogous to a danger zone for a career soldier to want his wife in it.

Farmer's markets, though, were another matter – once the restrictions on those were lifted, all 10 Ludlows, from age 5 to age 58, descended on the markets, and it was always interesting how the set from 5-11 years old perceived things.

Six-year-old Grayson had a thought that he uttered to his big sister, ten-year-old Glendella.

“Why can't grocery stores be more like this?” he said. “You can actually get the stuff you need on one loop.”

Glendella considered this.

“Yeah, there is a lot of 'it's in the other aisle' in the store, but they gotta get you to go to that aisle so you can see more stuff to buy.”

Grayson considered this.

“I'm going to shop like Papa, who is on a mission,” he said. “You make a list, and you get the stuff on the list, and you come home – you follow the blueprint.”

“This is true,” Glendella said, “but you never do know what you might have a taste for when you see it, and stores know that.”

“And that's what I don't like – I'm trying to shop,” Grayson said. “I didn't ask to play games with my stomach.”

“But most people aren't as clear on what they are here to do as you are, Grayson,” Glendella said.

“Yeah,” Grayson said, “because I like farmers' markets, but the last time I was at a store I thought that I would rather be Legoing.”

“Most people just don't know,” Glendella said, “and so they go from aisle to aisle, trying to get their lives together, and never know that's what is happening to them.”