Don’t Make Us Get Stanchions Involved, People

This was quite a few years ago. Two coworkers and I were working the customer service counter, helping customers. It was getting quite busy. We had a group of people starting to wait around for us to help them next. They didn’t form any line; they were just standing wherever.

Soon, we had about five people standing around, waiting for our help. I was finishing up with a customer when a woman maybe in her fifties came up and stood between me and the next customer that was there first. When I was done, I walked past her, asking the other customer what they needed help with.

That’s when I heard a loud, sharp, gasp, and looked to see the woman looking at me with an open mouth and red in the face. But before she said anything, I quickly said to her:

Me: “I’m helping the next person in line, ma’am.”

And the customer I was going to help spoke up, too.

Next Customer: “Yes, ma’am. I was here before you. He’s just helping the next person in line.”

The woman said nothing; she just kinda looked meek and slunk away to wait for help.