out!”
She started turning as I dropped my basket. I took two quick steps, threw up my hands, and caught the carton badly. Its edge struck my palms, buckled against my shoulder, and carried enough weight to turn me sideways.
I managed to direct it away from her before lowering it awkwardly.
My shoe landed on something round.
The garlic I had dropped.
My foot slipped, and the woman caught my forearm before I went down beside the box. I grabbed the shelf with my free hand. We stood inches
