Not So Closed Minded, Part 34

It’s getting close to closing time at the visitor center. A family of four walks in. I do my usual cheery greeting.

Me: “Just to let you know, we’re closing in only three minutes.”

There’s not a single acknowledgment from the family. Our visitor center isn’t very large, and I am only about ten feet from them, so I know they’ve heard me. I watch them for those three minutes and notice they are speaking English, so it doesn’t seem to be a language barrier.

At closing time, I announce to everyone that we are now closed but will reopen at 8:00 am. Everyone thanks me and leaves except for the family of four. Once again, they do not acknowledge me at all. I just go about my closing procedures: closing the blinds, locking doors, turning off the park film, and partially shutting the gate for the gift shop.

I then remind them again that we’re closed.

Again, no acknowledgment.

Finally, ten minutes past close, the kids come up with cash to buy things.

Me: “I’ve already closed down the register and I can no longer accept cash, but I can do a credit card transaction.”

They put the stuff down and went to tell their parents what I said. The family finally left, the mother yelling at me the entire way out telling me how rude I was. I just laughed and shook my head in disbelief.

Related:
Not So Closed Minded, Part 33
Not So Closed Minded, Part 32
Not So Closed Minded, Part 31
Not So Closed Minded, Part 30
Not So Closed Minded, Part 29