Express lane. I had four items, three customers away from the register. We were motionless. The Slowest Checker in the Universe was staring into space as something was delayed. Line, ever longer. All I wanted was my sports drinks, gum and Christmas card. Come on!

A young man, nonscruffy, approached me and asked if I could go ahead of me, he only had one item.

Dammit. I only have four items, I said, and we’ve all been waiting a long time.

But it’s the express lane, he said, uselessly. It should go fast.

Dude, I only have four items.

Are you going to let me in or not?

And like a jerk, I did.

The line crawled.

He was short five cents, and the Slowest Checker in the Universe said, don’t worry about it, hon.

And he asked for a plastic bag for his small bottle of water.

Ungrateful shit.

I desperately need a do over for this.

What’s the etiquette for something like this? He was basically asking for cut-sies — should I have said “it’s okay by me, but you have to ask everyone else you’re in front of”? Should I have just said no? Should I get over myself and just be polite?