Eye Of The Needle Meets Eye Of The Storm
It’s my first job ever, and I’m a few months into it.
Boss: “How are you finding things?”
Me: “Pretty good! Everyone has been nice, even the customers!”
Boss: “Yeah, that’s cool, but remember we’re entering hurricane season. Customers get very upset during hurricane season.”
Me: “Why?”
Boss: “Because we have to close during hurricanes.”
Me: “We’re a craft store.”
Boss: “Yes, but the fury of a hurricane is nothing compared to the fury of grandmother O’Halloran when anyone gets between her and her knitting supplies.”
I laughed it off as some kind of joke.
And then our first hurricane hit. We’re closing early to everyone can get home and do what they need to do, when a group of old ladies starts knocking on the door.
Customer #1: “Hellooooo?”
Customer #2: “You seem to have accidentally locked the door.”
Me: *Talking through the glass doors.* “It’s not accidental, ma’am. We closed about ten minutes ago. We’re all about to leave.”
Customer #1: “But… why?”
Me: “The hurricane?”
Customer #2: “Well, yes, we know about that, that’s why we’re here! If I lose power, I want my knitting to keep me occupied.”
Me: “Well… anyway.”
I start to try to leave, but they keep shouting.
Customer #1: “Wait! Where are you going?!”
Customer #2: “Aren’t you going to let us in?!”
Me: “No, ma’am, we’re closed.”
Customer #1: “But why?!”
I blink. Didn’t we just do this?
Me: “Because of the hurricane, ma’am!”
Customer #2: “Just let us in, will you! We just need to select some colors and—”
My boss suddenly appears behind me.
Boss: “Mrs. O’Halloran, Mrs. Norman. Please stop picking on [My Name] here and go home. Every hurricane you do this, and every time you’re surprised that we have homes and lives to get home to, just like you do! We’re open seven days a week for twelve hours a day, but you always decide when a hurricane is due, that you need to come and top up your supplies! Not today! Go home and hunker down!”
Customer #1: “Well, I never! I have never been treated so rudely in my life! I shall complain!”
Customer #2: “As will I! You expect to remain in business like this?”
Boss: “No, I expect to stay safe like this. Business can wait until tomorrow.”
My boss whisked me away and told me to ignore the rest of the tasks, but…
Boss: “Leave by the back. Those two will be out front tapping on the glass a little while longer yet. They usually leave when it starts to rain… probably because they’re at risk of melting.”
