It’s A Dog-Eat-Dog World, Or Something

I work at a dog grooming shop. It is common for customers to come in because there are bays where they can wash their dogs themselves.

I’m closing and counting the till. A man in his forties or fifties comes in and chats with me. He has no dog with him. I’m friendly, as always, because I don’t close in my mind until the exact time that the shop closes. We have complementary dog bacon in a glass jar on the counter, and the man gestures to the jar.

Customer: “Are those free?”

Me: “They are complementary!”

He starts to take the lid off, and I think maybe he plans to take one with him for his pup. But no, he eats it.

Customer: “Oh, that’s good, but milk bones are my favorite.”

I was speechless but mustered an “oh” as I turned back to my work, trying to not let my expression show how baffled I was.