(The craft store is in a part of town near a university. At the moment, friendship style bracelets made of embroidery floss are popular. A young customer in his first year of college comes in.)

Me: “Hi there! Can I help you find anything today?”

Customer: “I’m looking for some string to make those bracelets with.”

Me: “Sure thing! Most people are using this embroidery floss to make them. It’s only 65 cents a piece!”

Customer: “Okay, great. I need some grey.”

Me: “Well, most of the neutrals are in this drawer.”

Customer: “These don’t have names. I need grey.”

Me: “I’m sorry; this particular brand doesn’t print color names on the labels. It looks like there are five different greys in this drawer here.”

(I pull out a grey and hand it to him.)

Customer: “I can’t buy this. How am I supposed to know what color it is if it doesn’t say? Is this grey? It doesn’t say if it’s grey. I need grey.”

(He leaves.)

Me: *speechless*

(I am working the reference desk. I have a great rapport with our patrons, and am often complimented for my positive attitude.)

Me: “This is the reference desk. How can I help you?”

Patron: “Can you tell me why fat people are so defensive?”

Me: “I’m sorry?”

Patron: “Can you tell me why fat people are so defensive?”

Me: “I can find you some materials on obesity, or prejudice faced by obese people perhaps—”

Patron: “I just want to know why fat people are always so angry.”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am; I don’t think I can answer your question.”

Patron: “See! You’re angry!”

Me: “I’m sorry; do I know you?”

Patron: “No, but I’ve been in your library before, and I recognize your voice. You’re fat. Why are you so angry?”

Me: “Ma’am, I consider your question offensive and bigoted. Would you ask that same question about a particular ethnic group?”

Patron: “You’re a f******* fat b****!”

(I’d like to say this conversation didn’t shake me, but I felt ashamed of my appearance for the rest of the day.)

(A customer comes into the drive thru.)

Me: “Hello, how are you, ma’am?”

Customer: “I want my Nexium.”

(She provides her information, but I see that nothing has been filled.)

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am; I don’t see that we have anything ready for you.”

Customer: “This always f****** happens! I’ve been trying to get my f****** Nexium for a month! I dropped it off here a month ago!”

Me: “You dropped it off at this location?”

(I ask this, as there are many branches of our chain within a 10 mile radius of each other.)

Customer: “Yes, I only fill here!”

Me: “Ma’am, there is no Nexium in your profile.”

Customer: “Yes their f****** is! This always f****** happens!”

(My coworker takes over, trying to calm her down. My manager has had enough of her mouth, and he goes to tell her off.)

Manager: “Ma’am! You have never filled here! It is not here! We have nothing for you!”

(The customer continues to curse up a storm. Another customer stares at the drive thru window, looking between it and me.)

Customer #2: “That b**** be crazy.”

Me: “I agree, sir.”

(I suddenly hear the drive thru window slam, and the car speed away.)

Me: “Sorry you had to hear all that, sir.”

Customer #2: “Nah it’s cool. Hey if something happens, I heard everything!”

Regular: “Is [coworker] here?”

Me: “No, is there something I can do for you?”

Regular: “Oh, I was just here yesterday and I was chatting with [coworker], and didn’t pay for my espresso. I’d like to pay for it now.”

(I look at him in shock.)

Regular: “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Me: “Because most people aren’t that honest.”

Regular: “Well, they should be; what’s so difficult about it?”

Me: “Nothing, but it’s unusual. Would you like your usual along with it?”

Regular: “Yes, please, but make sure you charge me for yesterday’s as well.”

(The girl I am working with and I are just awestruck. It puts us in a good mood for the rest of the day.)

Customer: “Which of your pendants are for little boys?”

Me: “A lot of our pendants would be great for a boy! Typically, the girls usually like the smaller, round ones. The boys usually like the larger, square ones.”

(The customer glares at me.)

Customer: “Well, I think that my boy would like this one.”

(The customer points to a small, round pendant.)

Me: “That’s great! These pendants are—”

Customer: “I think he could wear any of these.”

Me: “So do I. All of the designs are fairly unisex; it just depends on his preference.”

Customer: “I think that girls should be able to wear the square ones.”

Me: “They absolutely can, my aunt actually wears the one—”

Customer: “I don’t think you should tell people what gender can’t wear which.”

Me: “I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear, but I do believe all of our pendants are suitable for both girls and boys. If I recall, you did ask which ones were for boys.”

Customer: “I’m pretty sure that you’re being sexist! What if my boy likes this one?”

(She points to a very specific round pendant of a lady. My eyes widen, as I only fear a bad situation going worse.)

Me: “Uh… I suppose you’re right. I’m sorry; I would not recommend that for a young child.”

Customer: “And why not!?”

Me: “…because that symbol means ‘fertility’.”