A Lesson In The Need To Read

(I work at a pool that offers private lessons, on top of normal lessons seven days a week. The last day for lessons in the summer is at the end of August, and then there are two weeks off until the fall session starts up. This gives time for everything to transfer over and for those running lessons to set up and organize everything. While it has been that way for a long time, we obviously have had signs posted about this everywhere for months, and the start date for lessons is clearly indicated on the receipt parents get when they register. It’s the beginning of September and I am covering a Friday shift, which I thought would be easy because no lessons are running. Then, a mom walks in with two kids in swimsuits.)

Mom: “Hi. I’m here for my children’s private lesson.”

Me: “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, but lessons don’t start up until the Friday after next week.”

Mom: “What?”

Me: “I’m sorry, we usually have two weeks in between to set up for the fall session. Did front desk not tell you when you came in?”

Mom: “No! ARE YOU SERIOUS?! THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR YOUNGEST’S FIRST DAY OF SWIMMING LESSONS! WE PAY EXTRA AND NO ONE THINKS TO PHONE US OF THIS? WE ARE HERE EVERY FRIDAY AND NOBODY TOLD US THIS!”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am. They didn’t tell you when you finished lessons in August?”

Mom: “NO! We don’t take lessons in August because we are off.”

Me: “Oh, well, if you—“

Mom: “THIS IS RIDICULOUS! THERE SHOULD’VE BEEN A PHONE CALL. NOW WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? WE DROVE ALL THE WAY HERE BECAUSE WE LIKE THIS POOL AND—“

(I realize she will be yelling for a while, so I just stand back and let her finish her rant. When she finishes and I make sure she is done, I point to the sign about lessons not starting up until mid-September, which clearly states that ALL LESSONS won’t be happening until a certain start date.)

Me: “We’ve had these signs up since May.”

(The mom looks at it and immediately turns red, but she isn’t backing down without a fight.)

Mom: “Well, if I saw this, I wouldn’t think it applied to private lessons.”

(I could’ve asked for her receipt and pointed out the start date, but in the end, we ended up making it work for her. One of the guards was about to go on break and had taught the woman’s daughter before, so she offered to teach them for the day, and I helped with the little one’s first lesson. While she was extremely thankful and I’ve had only positive interactions with her since, she still never admitted she was wrong.)