#stevie's a native so feel free to assume connections

[steviekepler]

WHERE: bay farmer's market. WHO: [ open ] & stevie.

A reusable grocery bag hung off Stevie's arm as she made her way down the rows of vendors at the farmer's market. So far, she'd only snagged a few oranges, but she'd set her sights on the avocados from several rows away. Now that she was standing here, though, one slightly squishy avocado in hand, she realized she had absolutely no idea how to properly pick one. They were sensitive little things; not ripe enough and she'd have to wait to eat it, which... patience was a virtue, sure, but not one she'd ever know in this lifetime. But overripe and she'd be cutting into brown mush, which... gross.

Still glancing down at the avocado in her hand, she sensed the presence of another shopper standing a little off to the side. For just a moment, Stevie felt a small sense of shame that she had never learned how to do something as simple as shop for groceries like a normal person, but growing up like she had meant a dollar for a ten pack of ramen noodles was a far better deal than a dollar for a fruit with a very short shelf life. And then in LA, the only part Stevie played in grocery shopping was Venmoing her roommate.

She held up the offending fruit and humbled herself as she turned towards the other shopper, asking, "how do you when it's a good avocado? I know you don't want it to feel like a rock, and too much squish is bad, but how much squish is too much squish?"