JPanel checkoutPane = new JPanel( );
JButton button = new JButton( "Checkout" );
button.setVerticalTextPosition( AbstractButton.CENTER );
button.setHorizontalTextPosition( AbstractButton.LEADING );
//attach handler to assert items into working memory
button.addMouseListener( new CheckoutButtonHandler( ) );
button.setActionCommand( "checkout" );
checkoutPane.add( button );
bottomHalf.add( checkoutPane, BorderLayout.NORTH );
button = new JButton( "Reset" );