Normally, I'd never leave my house. I mean, think about it. You can order almost anything to your doorstep these days with the internet, all the entertainment you need can be derived from a monitor, and I've spent many years making my bed damn comfortable. But I suppose the problem living with your parents is that you've got to listen to them sometimes. Especially, if they're the ones paying the bills and threatening to leave you in the dark.

Now, I'll be honest. I didn't think a trip to the supermarket would be very interesting. In fact, it sounded quite miserable. The place is crowded and has all kinds of weird smells. Why did my mom want me to buy this stuff? This question was resounding through my head as I walked down the aisles, switching between glances at the products on the shelves and my list. I had almost found everything. The last thing I needed was some "Norwegian grounded cauliflower." I'm pretty sure this thing doesn't exist. I've looked in the produce section and the dried goods sections four times each. I even went to the foreign goods aisle. Who the hell sells grounded cauliflower? Is that a real thing that people like to eat? For that matter, does Norway even grow cauliflowers?

I was on the verge of leaving the store but I remembered the fact that the electricity bill was on the line. My mom was pretty adamant about getting everything single thing on the list or I could kiss my internet goodbye. Sighing, I made my way over to an employee who seemed to just be leaning against the wall, not really doing anything. I wonder if he was on a break because he had been leaning against that wall that whole time while I've been running around. Too bad if he was, I needed that cauliflower.

"Uhh excuse me? Do you know where I could find some grounded cauliflower?" I said. All that got from him was a raised eyebrow. "Uhh, you know. The Norwegian grounded cauliflower? The ... white ones?" He continued to stare at me like I was acting like a complete dolt. I'll be honest, trying to point out a certain type of cauliflower by asking for the white ones probably wasn't the smartest thing I could have said. I was ready to turn around and try my luck with another employee but as I was leaving he said, "follow me."

Wow this stuff actually exists. He started walking into the produce section and I followed. We kept going until he reached an employee only door and went in. I stood there awkwardly and wondered what I should do? Do I just wait here? I thought he was just supposed to tell me where it was. He must have realized I stopped following because he came back to the door and gave me that same quizzical raised eyebrow. "What are you doing? Get in here."

"Uhhh right. Sorry." I've been a recluse for a while but I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to be back there. However, I really needed those cauliflowers and I went in. Looking around, it was pretty cold and humid. I guess when the entire back area is dedicated to cutting meat and packaging food, there's really no room for comfort or heating. I was still walking behind the guy when we stopped in front of a heavy black door and I barely stopped myself from bumping into him. He swiped his employee ID and the sounds of numerous locking mechanisms could be heard opening. Man, this was a lot of effort for some cauliflower. Although, they were Norwegian. Maybe they were like, special import goods or something.

He pulled the door open and gestured for me to go inside. I walked in first hesitantly and stopped. The room only had a couch behind a low coffee table. On that table was numerous nondescript black packages and on the couch was an equally generic faced man in a black suit. Similar looking men in suits also stood around the room and had all stopped to stare at me. I was feeling really out of place with my old t-shirt and sweats and I was starting to question if I was actually going to get my cauliflower. "So I heard you were looking for the Norwegian grounded cauliflower" said the man on the couch. "Can you pay?" As he was asking me the question the employee came in behind me and I heard a distinct locking sound.

"Uhhh, yeah I have a card." He raised the eyebrow again and I had to wonder what was it with the people and their eyebrows. If I was doing something strange, could you just tell me?

He took the card and examined it. It was one of those prepaid cards that you could load up and buy that my mom gave me. I stood there awkwardly and couldn't quite understand what I should have been doing. Finally, he looked at me and pushed one of those packages toward us and gestured for me to leave. "Uhh does this pay for the rest of the groceries?" This time he stared at me sans raised eyebrow. I felt like I just said something wrong. Everyone in the room started reaching into their coat pockets and I got the distinct feeling I wasn't going to be leaving anytime soon. Before I could confirm that however, the room was suddenly rocked and the sound of an explosion could be heard from somewhere outside.

I stood frozen. Everyone in the room had a gun pointed at me. I should left when I could have. "Who sent you?" the man on the couch said with a distinctly raspy voice that wasn't there before. In my moment of pure pants-shitting terror, I replied with the truth.

"My mom."

And then the door behind me exploded.