Pregnant With Ignorance

(I work signs at a toy store. I don’t interact with customers as much as other employees, but often enough. I happen to work on Mother’s Day. Quite a few older people have been coming in to buy toys to keep kids occupied while they watch them for the night. I’m approached by a couple of customers that look to be in their sixties.)

Me: “What can I help you find today in [Store]?”

Customer #1: “Can you help us find [popular toddler toy]?”

Me: “Yep, it’s towards the back of the store. I can take you right back.”

(I start walking back with them, making small talk, asking a few questions about what the child likes, etc. Note: I’m a woman in my mid-twenties, and I don’t have much belly fat, but I do have very wide hips.)

Customer #2: “Are you a mother?”

(I am slightly taken aback; plus, my cousin’s wife has been having trouble conceiving, and would be terribly upset if someone asked her that, but I laugh it off.)

Me: “Haha, no.”

Customer #2: “Well, are you going to be?”

Me: *more forcefully now* “No.”

Customer #2: “Are you sure?“

(I didn’t respond that time, and the wife gave him a gentle slap on the arm. We arrived in the section, I showed them the toy, and instead of staying to see if they needed help, I hurried away. I know he was, for some reason, trying to wish every woman he saw a happy Mother’s Day, but it was extremely uncomfortable. At the time, it didn’t even occur to me that he could’ve been implying I was too stupid to know I was pregnant.)