There is a great small food place just across from my work building and I end up loving a specific menu item. It’s basically the only thing I’ve ever ordered there, I love it so much. It’s a noodle and veggie bowl with a spicy red coconut curry soup. The question the cashier asks me, I’ve been asked a few times before this instance, but this time, I have to probe further.

Me: “Hi, I’d like the Yoga Fire bowl, with chicken, please.”

Cashier: “Sure! Have you had it before?”

Me: “Yes.”

Cashier: “So you know it’s a bit spicy?”

Me: “Yes. I have to ask; I’ve been reminded of that a few times over the past few months. Have people actually complained that it’s too spicy?”

Cashier: “Yes, a bunch of people did.”

Me: “But it literally has the word ‘fire’ in its name.”

Cashier: “I know. Some people just… I don’t know.”

Pretty sure anything described with the word “fire,” or even “spicy curry,” should have been clear enough. I guess not!

This story is part of the Spicy roundup!

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Due to the recent health crisis, our hotel has limited staff and guest interactions as much as possible, including eliminating room service for dining. I receive calls like this multiple times a night because no one pays attention at check-in.

Guest: “Are you doing room service right now?”

Me: “No, ma’am, due to the restrictions in place from the health crisis. However, the restaurant is still taking to-go orders that you can come to pick up.”

Guest: “Oh, can someone bring it to my room?”

Me: *Restraining sarcasm* “No, ma’am, as that would be room service.”

I have a reputation for making shoplifting difficult. Due to the global health crisis, masks are mandatory in my city. This is often forgotten, so I politely remind customers about it.

A well-known shoplifter comes into the store — one I have yet to catch red-handed, which is required to issue a ban — without a mask on.

Me: “Hi there! Do you have your mask or face covering with you today?”

Shoplifter: “Oh! I’m sorry, I forgot it. I need to leave now anyway, ‘cause you’re here!”

The shoplifter then stormed out of the store empty-handed.

Our store just got the TAP feature on our PIN pad machines about a week ago and both customers and associates are happy that we finally have it. I am working at the self-checkout. I scan a man and his wife through and click the payment screen for them.

Me: “All right, your total is [total]. You can either TAP or chip in the bottom here!”

The man starts tap dancing.

Wife: “What are you doing?”

Man: “Well, she said I could tap as a way to pay, so I’m tap dancing!”

His wife just shook her head at him and told him to just pay already! I thought it was silly, at least, and it was a nice little laugh for the day!

This story is part of our Feel Good roundup for November 2020!

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Read the Feel Good roundup for November 2020!

I live in a town in Alberta that is popular in the summer for tourists. We have a desert-like climate: very hot and very dry. I’m a customer in this story and I overhear this between two customers as I wait in line behind them.

Customer #1: “Oh! We forgot sunscreen.”

Customer #2: “Shoot!”

[Customer #1] turns to the cashier and asks, straight-faced:

Customer #1: “Can people get sunburned in this town?”

I couldn’t help but stare at the man, hoping he was joking. No sign of sarcasm was present.

This story is part of the Sunscreen roundup!

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