(The Australian government has recently made it law that all cigarette packages must be plain with no branding or colouring. A lot of people are angry over this and are taking it out on the cashiers.)

Customer #1: “…and can I get a pack of [brand cigarettes]?”

Employee: “Sure!”

(The employee fetches them and leaves them on the counter while she finishes ringing up the customer’s other items.)

Customer #1: “Hey! I said that I wanted [brand]. What’s this s***?!”

Employee: “That is [brand]; it’s just a different package.”

Customer #1: “Don’t you lie to me, you b****!”

(He then grabs them from the counter and hurls them at her, but they bounce off her and land on the ground. She calmly bends down to pick them up.)

Me: *to Customer #1* “Hey! What the h***, man?”

Employee: *turns to me* “It’s okay.” *turns to Customer #1* “Sir, can I show you something?”

(She gestures for the customer to look at the cigarettes.)

Employee: “This writing right here says [brand] Optimums, see? And this number right here says 25. So, this is [brand] Optimums 25s, which is what you asked for. Have a nice evening.”

(He storms out, and the next customer steps up. He’s been fiddling with his basket and looking impatient while the employee was dealing with the first customer.)

Customer #2: *quietly* “You’re doing a very good job dealing with jerks like that. I’ve never seen such patience and poise in a young woman such as yourself; they are very admirable qualities to have.”

Employee: *near tears* “Thank you.”

Customer #2: “Don’t let vicious people get you down. You’re just trying to do your job.”

(The manager, who had just returned from dealing with Customer #1 outside, overheard this gave Customer #2 his groceries for free for being a decent person!)