Customers Need To Give Us A Break

(I’ve just slipped on water and hit my shoulder so hard it has fractured. I’m on the ground in intense pain with my coworkers surrounding me to ensure I am okay. A nearby customer is obviously not impressed.)

Customer: “Why are you all being lazy lying about? I just want some d*** coffee.”

Coworker #1: “I’m sorry, sir. It will be just a moment. Our coworker has fallen and we think she broke her shoulder.”

Customer: “God-d*** lazy kids these days, lying on the disgusting floor having a good time at work!”

Coworker #2: “I’m sorry, sir. It will be just a second. I’ll be there as soon as I am sure that we have an ambulance coming.”

Customer: “I should report your lazy a**es to your manager. You have horrible customer service and that one…” *points at me* “…is just sleeping on the floor!”

(My manager, who was dialing the ambulance, speaks up.)

Manager: “I don’t know what your problem is right now, but I just had this young lady fall, hit her head, and crack her shoulder. I am concerned she broke her shoulder, so right now all I care about is calling her an ambulance. If you are so concerned about your coffee, there is another shop a tenth of a mile away, a fast food place next door, and the gas station on the corner has coffee as well.”

(By now I’m standing, and am holding my arm to my body using my other arm so as not to hurt myself worse.)

Customer: “She’s fine! She’s standing up and playing with her arm!”

(At this point, I’ve decided I’ve had enough of the customer’s verbal abuse.)

Me: “I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, sir. I should have known that there would be a puddle of water on the ground right there that I slipped in. I can honestly tell you I’m not ‘playing’ with my arm. I’m currently trying to prevent further injury to myself. What is so d*** important that you couldn’t wait ’til they made sure I had an ambulance coming?”

Customer: “D*** b****!”

(The customer storms out, slamming our door. Three days later, he comes back and sees me in a sling.)

Customer: “What happened to you?”

Me: “You remember the other day when you complained that I was just lying on the floor? I fractured my shoulder!”

Customer: *turns red, orders, and leaves quickly*