Kid, Don’t Mess With The Muffin Man

I work at a bakery in a food court in a large superstore named after a bullseye symbol. Our doughnuts and muffins are put in a small case near the register, about the size of two bread boxes side by side. It has a little door that opens in the front and a removable back to take the tray out.

I normally ask the guests which doughnuts or muffins they want so that I can grab them with gloves on. There was a regular guest who had a four-year-old who constantly jumped up and picked his muffin out, touching each and every one.

Me: *To the mom.* “Ma’am, I’ve told you to please not let him do that, because now I can’t sell any of these ones.”

Customer: “Ugh, you’re the only one who has an issue with it! I shop here every week!”

Me: “And every week you get me. Please don’t let him do it again.”

Next week, she comes back in, and I turn the case around because he’s already diving for it.

Customer: *To her son, but glaring at me.* “Oh, sorry hun, we aren’t allowed to do that when that mean man is here.”

She then snaps at me.

Customer: “Such an overreaction! You turning that case around the second you saw us, like we got a disease or something!”

Me: *Trying to ignore her and get the transaction back on track.* “He cannot reach in and get it. If he tells me what he wants, I will get it.”

The little boy is getting frustrated at being unable to stuff his hand into the case, and because his mom is letting it happen (practically encouraging it), he breaks down into a full-blown tantrum.

Customer: “Now see what you did! You’re an evil man! We’re not gonna buy any muffins from you anymore! We’re gonna buy them from Walmart next door!”

She walked away with a smug look as if that was in some way hurting me.