Sometimes this middle of the road business is hard to take. Last week in Gallup, I was in line at Foodway one checkstand open and a long line of Navajos waiting           money and foodstamps in hand           waiting to buy food and pop. My turn and I fumble dropping the change           Sorry, I say, sorry           The cashier looks up smiling           first smile in 20 minutes of Navajo customers           Oh – that's okay. Are you Navajo?           I swear, you don't have an accent at all!           She's friendly too quick and I am uneasy.           I say to the people behind me           Ha' 'at'ii sha'ni?           Why is she saying that to me? We laugh a little under our breaths and with that           I am another Navajo           she doesn't greet or thank. My change is dropped in front of me           and we are not surprised by that. Merle Norman offers a free make-up job           just the thing for a new look           I say to myself and stop in           for an appointment. For 15 minutes, I wait for a saleslady then I ask for an appointment outright.           Just a moment, she says,           someone will be with you shortly. I wait some more while the salesladies           talk about a great hairdresser,           General Hospital and Liz Taylor. So I just leave, shortly is too long, seeing as I'm the only customer in the place. I guess I can do without a new look but this kind of business           sure gets hard to take.