Red October Hunted Down

I was up early this morning and that after sleeping relatively well.  The plan was t get to the supermarket early and grab some sausages for breakfast.  And so there I was in the supermarket at 7:30 with a basket of breakfasty things.  And in front of me in the queue were a couple who made me very, very curious.

As I said, it was 7:30. 

The couple had come to buy an aubergine and nothing else.

What was so urgent, that they both had to come to the supermarket to buy 1 aubergine?

What's that all about?

I'm aware I'm slightly odd but even in the glorious travesty of my oddness I've never woken up and said "I need an Aubergine.  And I need it now.  Quick, get dressed, the future of our relationship depends on getting that aubergine."

There's probably a really good reason for it. 

Maybe they had an aubergine at home but it was lonely and had been keeping them awake by singing sad songs.

Or something like that.