Pay It Forward Doesn’t Go Back Very Far

(I’m going through the drive-thru of a fast food chain. I am driving, and my daughter is sitting directly behind me. We order our food, and when pulling up to pay, I decide to be nice and pay for the food for the car behind me.)

Me: *at window* “Hi. I’d like to pay for the person behind me, please.”

Cashier: “The person behind you?”

Me: “Yes, please. Can I do that?”

Cashier: “Sure? That’s [original total].”

Me: “That’s for my food. What about the car behind me?”

Cashier: “The car behind you? OH! I thought you meant the person sitting behind you. You wanted to pay for her food.”

(Yes, cashier guy. I’m a horrible person and making my daughter buy her own food.)