Let Go Of Me, Lady, Or Your Number Will Be Up In A More Permanent Sense

My mom and I had to do our usual shopping, which required us to pop by a major wholesale store known for selling bulk items. I figured, since we were popping in for some things, I’d grab a bite to eat in the process. I ordered my food, got the drinks, and waited.

As I waited, I noticed they were calling way out of order. 29, 78, 56… and so on. There were a lot of people, and a ton of orders, I imagine; no skin off my nose, they’ll call me when they call me.

They call my number about five minutes in. I grab my food, and just as I’m about a leave, a lady grabs my arm.

Lady: “Is that [her order number]?”

Me: *Looks at receipt.* “No, it has my number, hon.”

Lady: “Are you sure? My number was supposed to be called next!”

I double checked the receipt I had with the number on the order, and they matched. I showed her.

Lady: “So that’s not a hot dog?”

Me: “Nope, ’tis a chicken bake.”

Lady: “You’re lying! They wouldn’t have called your order before mine!”

Me: “Lady, they’ve been calling ’em odd all morning. This is mine, I don’t know what else to tell you.”

She huffed angrily before turning back to the counter and yelling at the poor staff.

Lady: “This lady took my food! I was supposed to be called next!”

The staff member who answered her looked like she’d been through the wringer before she even got to work. She turned to me with a look that simply begged this to be an easy fix.

Staff Member: “Ma’am, can I see your receipt real quick, please?”

I hand it over without issue. The poor girl looked visibly exhausted as she turned to the lady.

Staff Member: “Sorry, but this is her order. She’s right to take it.”

This woman’s grip at this point was like a vice. So, to drive the point home, I took a bite of my food. Mercifully, she loosened her grip, and I walked away.

Lady: *As I walked away.* “I still think you took my food!”

Even in cheapo food stands like that, gotta love when people don’t pay attention. Thankfully, for both my own sake and the staff’s, the woman’s number was called as I left.