Unfiltered Story #361670

My very first job was at the local movie theater. I worked concessions mostly which is a thankless job. We had one special concessions stand in the middle of the entryway just behind the box office. Here you can buy candy by weight and only at this stand. Otherwise they’re all the same.

Also at only this stand, you have to call out to customers. Yep like a fair concessions stand. The first day I’m assigned to this post I have a horrible sore throat. My voice is raspy and I considered calling in sick. I ask to be reassigned but no luck – everyone hates this stand.

So I suck it up with one exception. I don’t call out. My voice is barely audible as it is and if I want to be able to talk all night I don’t think trying to yell is a good idea. Everything is fine and I’ve served a number of customers when one of my managers pulls me aside. Mind you if I’m not there no one is working the stand.

Manager: You’re not calling out to the customers. You have to greet them! Encourage them to buy the candy.

Me: I have a sore throat. I really can’t yell. (Sadly this isn’t the same manager I started the day with.) I did ask to be reassigned but no one wanted to switch.

Manager: No excuses! You have try! Greet them loudly. (Points to a couple who just walked in.)

Me: (I don’t want to but it’s my first job so I give it my all.) Hello! (I sound horrible.)

The couple smiles and walks past.

Manager: See? You can do it.

For the rest of my shift I called out in my raspy oh so obviously sick voice. By the end of the night I could barely speak. What’s more amazing is that the customers didn’t even care that a sick clerk was handing them food!