“Can I get…” Jim begins.

“You need to take a number,” sighs the deli worker pointing to the sign above her head.

“Ooo-kay,” Jim says, grabbing the number 1 off the stack.

“Can I help you, sir?” The deli worker looks at him expectantly.  He’s pretty sure this whole situation is absurd, some sort of farce put on for the cameras, which decided to follow him to Walmart.  Seriously why this footage needs to be shot, Jim really can’t fathom, but they are here and he has to get something for Michael’s Siesta party.

“Sir?  Can I help you?” 

Jim startles at the voice, now much firmer, and as he meets the deli worker’s eyes he can’t help but think she looks a lot like the crabby lunch lady from his elementary school.  He looks back into the deli counter, and clears his throat.

“Sir,” the deli worker says again, annoyance edging into her voice.  “You are holding up the line.  If you can’t make a selection, I’m going to have to confiscate your number and make you go to the back of the line.”

Yup, exactly like the lunch lady from his elementary school.  Jim shrugs, and places his number into the deli worker’s outstretched hand.  He glances around to see how big the line has become, and his eyes land on the only other person in line.

“Roy,” Jim says quietly, almost not wanting to have this encounter.

“Halpert,”  Roy smiles.

Suddenly Jim feels queasy.  He glances at the camera, which is trained on his face.

The two men stand silently for a moment, the awkwardness caught on camera for added posterity.

Roy clears his throat, and says, “So, I, uh, hear you and Pam are dating.”

A moment ago Jim couldn’t imagine how this could get any more awkward.  Now he’s pretty sure it simply can’t unless Roy starts giving him relationship advice.

Ducking his head in a quick nod, Jim mutters, “Yeah, we are.”

“You know when we were together I never…well, I’m just trying to say make sure you…she likes…” Roy stumbles through his thoughts as a loud buzzing sound fills Jim’s ears.  He’s pretty sure he’s blushing.  Maybe he’ll pass out of embarrassment.  That would probably make for a really nice moment on the documentary. 

“Yeah…um, that’s okay, man,” Jim says.  He hopes it stops the conversation.

Roy gives him a slightly sheepish, relieved grin.  “She deserves to be happy,” he finally says simply.

Jim smiles, relaxing instantly.  “Yeah.”

They turn to contemplate the deli counter again, and Jim can’t help but notice the deli worker hasn’t bothered them for several minutes.  He’s pretty sure she was eavesdropping on their conversation, but he can’t quite tell.  She’s suddenly very busy slicing a rather large ham.

When she does turn back to them, she gives Roy a huge smile.  “The usual today?”

Roy nods and smiles back.  “You know me so well, Doris.”

As Doris shuffles off to fix whatever Roy’s usual selection is, Jim turns toward him with a smirk.  “First name basis huh?  And that smile, whoa!  I think the deli lady has the hots for you.”

“Old ladies are my specialty, Halpert,” Roy chuckles. 

“Here you go, Roy,” Doris says handing him an immaculately wrapped sandwich.  “Chicken salad on white.”

“Thanks,” Roy smiles at her.

“Chicken salad?  That’s totally great, Roy.  I wish I knew how to make chicken salad that good.  It’s just chicken and mayonnaise, right Doris?”

Jim and Roy turn to see Michael standing there, sort of breathless like he’d run to the back of the store.

“Do you know how to make chicken salad, Roy?  You could totally come do a cooking demonstration for the office.  Or, hey Doris, would you like to come teach a cooking class at our office, or maybe even a whole cooking series?  We could learn to make potato salad, chicken salad, tuna salad.  All sorts of salads.  What do you think?” Michael looks hopefully at the deli worker. 

Jim shakes his head, and mutters, “Later, man,” to Roy.  He heads toward the bakery.  It’s probably safe to bring cupcakes.