Blocks Out The Glaring Customers

(My coworker has just had laser corrective surgery on his eyes. Unfortunately, he’s experiencing a much greater than usual amount of swelling in the area. His optometrist has prescribed him eye drops and told him to keep sunglasses on at all times, until the swelling goes down, as bright light causes irritation.)

Customer: “Excuse me!”

(My coworker and I notice an older customer glaring at him angrily.)

Coworker: “Can I help you, ma’am?”

Customer: “How DARE you!”

Coworker: “Sorry?”

Customer: “You take those off right this instant! I won’t stand for this disrespect!”

Coworker: “You mean these?” *points to his sunglasses* “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that I had laser surgery on my eyes, and the eye doctor told me I have to keep these on because bright light makes the swelling worse.”

Customer: “LIAR!”

(The customer lunges over the counter and grabs the glasses right off of his face. She puts several bloody scratches on his forehead with her long fingernails.)

Coworker: “Oh, God!”

(My coworker clutches his face, doubles over, and staggers head-first into a wall.)

Me: “Good God, lady! Why the h*** did you do that?!”

Customer: “You young ruffians are worthless! Not showing me the respect I deserve because you want to look ‘cool’!”

(She drops the sunglasses on the ground and stomps on them, shattering them. The noise and commotion have attracted our manager.)

Manager: “WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!”

Customer: “That young punk was disrespecting me with his gang stuff! I demand that you fire him immediately!”

(The manager looks at the shattered sunglasses on the ground, and my coworker, who is doubled up, moaning and bleeding.)

Manager: “Did you assault my employee?”

Customer: “I can do whatever I want to scum like him! I’m the customer, so he has to do what I say! And he needed to be taught a lesson about respect, with those stupid things on his face!”

Manager: “He was wearing those because his optometrist told him not to look at any bright light!”

Customer: “You expect me to believe that? Give me a break! Now I DEMAND to be served RIGHT THIS INSTANT!”

Manager: “I’m calling the police.”

Customer: “Good! He SHOULD be in prison! He should rot there!”

(The customer actually stands there looking smug and triumphant as the manager calls the police right in front of her, while I lead my coworker to the front office to get the first aid kit. About ten minutes later, the cops show up. My manager and the general manager of the store explain to them what happened, with the customer agreeing the entire time, still convinced the cops will be on her side. It completely blows her mind when the cops start to drag her away instead, as she goes kicking and screaming that my coworker should be the one getting arrested, not her.)