Behavior That Bowls You Over

(Some friends and I are attending a small party held at a park in the afternoon. We soon realize that we have forgotten all of the utensils and plates. We don’t need much, so we decide to go to a fast food restaurant to get some drinks and the necessary supplies. We are pulling through the drive-thru.)

Employee: “Hello, and thanks for choosing [Restaurant]. What can we get for you today?”

(I order some drinks, and at the very end I ask for the supplies we need.)

Me: “Also, can we get some of your foam bowls, and some sporks?”

Employee: “You want some bowls?”

Me: “Yes. The ones that you use for cheesy potatoes. Could we get five of them?”

Employee: “You want cheesy potatoes?”

Me: “No, I just want the foam bowl that they come in.”

(The employee then adds cheesy potatoes to the order screen.)

Employee: “Anything else for you today?”

Me: “No, but I don’t want cheesy potatoes, I just want the foam bowl that they come in. Don’t ring it up; I just want the bowl.”

Employee: “But if you want the potatoes, I’ll have to ring it up.”

Me: “Okay, imagine that you have a bowl of cheesy potatoes in your hand. Now, take away the sour cream, the nacho cheese, and the potatoes. What is left in your hand?”

Employee: “Nothing?”

(At this point, I’ve given up explaining.)

Me: “All right, how about you take off the cheesy potatoes from the order, and I’ll explain at the window?”

Employee: “Uh, all right.”

(We pull forward, only to find that this employee is either drunk, high, or both. She’s barely lucid.)

Me: “Can we talk with a manager?”

(The manager arrives quickly.)

Manager: “What’s the problem?”

Me: “We just want some foam bowls. The ones you use for cheesy potatoes.”

Manager: “How many?”

Me: “Just five, and some sporks”

(He grabbed the items and sent us on our way. I’m still astounded that her manager allowed her to work in that condition!)