Didn’t Mommy Teach You To Read?

Sometimes I wish I had a built-in recorder to capture interactions — partly for learning from my mistakes but also for saving bizarre responses from others.

I’m hanging up ad tags in an aisle on a Sunday morning, and a customer in her twenties approaches with an older woman.

Customer: “When does the pharmacy open?”

Me: “Nine am on weekends, just like the sign out front says.”

Customer: “Excuse me?!”

Okay, so my response was a little snarky.

Me: “Um… I was letting you know we have signs at the door showing our hours?”

Customer: “Well, obviously, if I had seen the signs, I’d know the answer already!”

She turns to the older woman.

Customer: “Mommy, let’s leave and shop somewhere else. These people don’t want to be bothered.”

I quietly snort, trying not to laugh. Her “mommy” isn’t listening and doesn’t remark anything about her daughter’s indignance. As they leave, the daughter says to me:

Customer: “Thanks for that very helpful comment.”

I did not respond, but I almost smiled back and said, “You’re welcome.”