At Ease!

A man with a veteran hat full of ribbons and a p***y attitude comes into the hotel and hands me an expired military ID.

Me: “Sorry, sir, but I need a valid ID.”

He starts fuming and steaming.

Veteran: “It was good enough for the TSA; you’re p***ing me off, kid.”

Me: *Calmly.* “Sir, I’m just doing what they trained me to do.”

I didn’t choose my words for effectiveness, but at the word “trained,” I saw the wheels start turning in his head, remembering all the crap that dudes yelled in his face in basic training or wherever, and this guy straight up melted.

Veteran: “I’m sorry, son. You didn’t deserve that for doing your job.”

It was a big first for me to get an old veteran to admit he was wrong in the moment. Don’t know if it would work again, but it was worth a shot!