Emma pulled the gray plaid coat more tightly around her body. It was a wool coat, and it was scratchy, but she was grateful for its warmth. It had been kind of her neighbor to give it to her after his wife died. So many people didn't have a decent coat these days, but now Emma could venture out into the ice and snow to do her errands without running the risk of pneumonia. This was such a long winter! Wasn't there a book by that title? Yes, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Unlike Laura, Emma hadn't seen any real blizzards this year, but the snow just kept coming, and now it was April and she wondered if it would ever end. Maybe she had stepped into Narnia where it was "always winter, never Christmas." "Why do I keep thinking about books that have to do with winter?" she wondered aloud.
The grocery store was pleasantly warm. Emma grabbed a cart and began to work her way around the store, gathering up the necessities for the week. Only the necessities, mind you, no treats. There was no extra money for treats since the Even Greater Depression began. Milk, eggs, bread, hamburger, a little sugar, a few potatoes, and then she would be on her way.
At the checkstand, Emma stacked her purchases on the belt. Milk, eggs, bread, hamburger, sugar, potatoes, cake mixes, wine, Cadbury eggs....wait! "Wine? Cadbury eggs? Cake mixes? How did all these luxury items get into my cart?" Emma wondered, aghast. She didn't have enough money for all of those things. Who put all that into the cart?
Five minutes are up! This may or may not be continued.