Could Have Been Some Ballooning Embarrassment

(I’m a bagger at a popular grocery store. A woman has approached the register with a balloon that says “Get Well Soon” and a bouquet of roses. It’s also clear that English isn’t her first language.)

Me: “Is your friend okay?”

Customer: *happily* “It her birthday.”

(I assume her friend had gotten sick on her birthday, so I finish bagging her things.)

Me: “Have a nice day, ma’am, and I hope your friend feels better soon.”

Customer: “What?”

Me: “That’s a ‘Get Well Soon’ balloon, right?”

Customer: “It not birthday balloon?”

Me: “Um, no. That’s a ‘Get Well Soon’ balloon. You give it to a friend who’s sick and hope they, well… ‘Get Well Soon.’”

Customer: “Oh! Can I exchange for different one?”

(I pointed her towards the customer service desk, and later saw her leaving with a proper birthday balloon. It’s nice to know that I stopped someone from potentially embarrassing themselves at a birthday party.)