July 7th, 2007On this day in different years

Odaiba

"I need the key!"

It's probably one of the worst things you can hear from your cashier while standing in a checkout line of a supermarket. It basically means that even though you're the next person in line, and the customer in front of you is only buying one stinking can of dog food for 99 cents, you're in for a wait.

What is this key that they need? Why is it that the person who has it is at the farthest possible point in the store? For that matter, why doesn't the cashier have the stupid key to begin with?! And why, why is it always your cashier that suddenly needs it just as your turn in line draws near?!!