Piercing Observation, Part 6
(Not all regulars are good customers. We have one who comes in twice a week and seems to pick someone each day to try to aggravate. Yesterday was the coworker involved in this story. I’m the receptionist, and today it is my turn! I am thirty.)
Me: “Bora da; good morning.”
Customer: “You’ve got something on your nose.”
Me: *wiping my nose* “Oh, it’s probably pen; I get it everywhere.”
Customer: “It’s purple and sticking out!”
(Realising she is talking about my nose piercing, I know exactly what is coming.)
Me: “Haha, that just my piercing…”
Customer: “Ugh. I don’t know why you have something like that in your face.”
Me: “I have a couple of piercings. This one is actually my favourite.”
Customer: *making faces* ”Ooh, I think they are disgusting. I don’t understand permanently ruining your face.”
Me: “Actually, piercings heal over if—“
Customer: “Young girls like you don’t need it. It’s ugly. I’ll never understand. Never understand.”
Me: “It’s all personal choice. I like them so have them. You don’t like them, so don’t—“
(At this point my co-worker had come to the front desk to listen to what’s being said. The customer interrupts and starts gesturing at her)
Customer: *to [Coworker]* “You’ll understand. It’s a generational thing. Piercings and tattoos are disgusting!”
Coworker: “My daughter just got her nose pierced, I think she looks beautiful.”
Customer: “I don’t understand why you would allow that. Ugh, it’s horrible.”
Coworker: “I have tattoos and piercings, too.”
Customer: “WHAT! You?!”
Coworker: “Oh, yeah! From the neck down! I even have one on my foot.”
Customer: *again making disgusted expressions* “What is it?”
Coworker: “That one is very meaningful actually. My daughter died when she was young and it’s in her memory.”
Customer: “Ugh! You don’t need that. You carry her memory in your heart.”
Me & Coworker: *together* “And on her foot!”
(At this point [Customer] decided it was a losing the battle and left. Oh, well. See you next week, lovely, lovely regular!)
Related:
Piercing Observation, Part 3
Piercing Observation, Part 4
Piercing Observation, Part 5