A Battery Of Baptisms

(I work at a gas station close to a major highway outside Stockholm. Due to its location, it is always busy. This particular day, it is even busier than usual and all three registers have a line at least five people deep. A man in his 70s enters and goes directly to my counter.)

Old Man: *at the top of his lungs* “I NEED BATTERIES!”

Me: “Okay, but you will have to wait your turn like everyone else.”

Old Man: “WHAT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU! I NEED BATTERIES FOR MY HEARING AIDS!”

(Several people in line start to chuckle at the man who doesn’t seem to realize he is screaming.)

Me: *louder* “You need to wait your turn!”

Old Man: “BUT I AM GOING TO A BAPTISM!”

Me: “You still need to wait your turn like everyone else!”

(The old man turned quiet and looked at me blankly for a while and then left. I guess he didn’t hear much at the baptism.)