I was at a coffee shop. There were two padded chairs in a corner, and I was sitting in one of them. The other chair was next to an empty table. An elderly man and what I assumed was his grandson walked up.

Grandfather: “Excuse me. Is this seat taken?”

He gestured to the empty padded chair.

Me: “Oh, no. Go ahead.”

The grandfather sat. He pulled a chair out from the table for his grandson, who seemed to be happily playing with a toy. I turned back to my laptop and put my headphones on. After a moment, I realized the grandfather was trying to get my attention, so I pulled off my headphones.

Grandfather: “You know, staring too much at a screen can damage your eyes.”

Me: “Um… okay.”

I turned back to my laptop and ignored him. I guess you were upset that I wasn’t interested in talking to you, old man. Maybe you should have focused on spending time with your grandson instead of making passive-aggressive remarks to strangers.

We have a regular who is quite nice, although not the brightest bulb. She is telling us about her upcoming trip to Europe.

Customer: “We’re going to England first, and then France, and then the original Mexico.”

Me: “Sorry, what was that last one?”

Customer: “Oh, you know, the original Mexico. The one before the actual Mexico.”

Me: “Do you mean Spain?”

Customer: “Maybe. Do they speak Spanish there?”

Related:
Totally Estúpido! Part 22
Totally Estúpido! Part 21
Totally Estúpido! Part 20
Totally Estúpido! Part 19
Totally Estúpido! Part 18

Customer: “Chocolate frappuccino, hold the whip.”

Me: “We don’t do frappuccinos here. We only do what’s on the menu behind me.”

Customer: “No… fraps?”

Me: “No fraps. I think you’re looking for [Major Coffee Chain]? It’s down the road a little more.”

Customer: “This isn’t a [Major Coffee Chain]?”

Me: “No, we’re an independent coffee store.”

Customer: “You shouldn’t be selling coffee if you’re not [Major Coffee Chain]!”

The customer storms out, leaving me behind to share a confused stare with the next customer.

Next Customer: “I’d say they haven’t had their coffee yet, but it sounds like they don’t drink real coffee anyway!”

My daughter and I had an APPALLING experience at a very popular bagel and coffee chain in the Netherlands, which I normally love when I have the rare chance to treat myself to something.

I can NEVER get myself something amazing like a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon, but yesterday morning, my daughter had a very important meeting about her future, requiring intercity travel. We were out of the house so fast I needed to grab SOMETHING, so I was delighted when we spotted the bagel place.

I have health issues, and my daughter has a post-viral fatigue syndrome so we, unlike seemingly just about everyone else in the city, were wearing masks for our own safety and because we understand asymptomatic transmission — and despite the prevailing opinions, there IS still a health crisis on.

The guy at the counter looked a lot like Hawkeye from “The Avengers,” so our good mood got even better because that’s fun, and he seemed really nice.

Employee: “What would you like?”

Me: “I need to look at the menu first.”

Employee: “Okay.”

Then, he put on a teasing, “you silly person” tone.

Employee: “You know, those masks are no longer needed.”

Me: *Politely* “They’re no longer required by law.”

I thought we could leave it at that or that he might, as has happened before, demand that I list my personal health concerns for him, but no. He rolled his eyes and started laughing.

Employee: “Oh, come on!”

I turned to my daughter.

Me: *Quietly* “Yeah, let’s go somewhere else.”

The employee yelled after us as we walked out.

Employee: “Oh, what? REALLY?! SORRY, OKAY? WHAT THE H***?!”

We just kept walking, so he CHASED US INTO THE STREET, screaming.

Employee: “Hey, you! You… FOOLISH WOMEN! I hope you… I hope you TAKE ANOTHER VACCINE!”

I’m really not sure what that was supposed to mean.

My daughter is painfully shy and autistic, and she has some trauma in her past. This frightened her, so she had to go into her important meeting already far too anxious, so she had a distressing day. (The meeting went great, though.) And I, of course, did not get any breakfast.

I’m trying to figure out how in the world the guy thought mocking, screaming at, and CHASING customers would get them to buy a bagel.

Related:
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 24
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 23
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 22
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 21
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 20

A customer comes in and orders a strawberry drink that comes with actual strawberry pieces along with the strawberry tea. I make it and give it to him. He picks up the drink and looks weirdly at it.

Customer: “I asked for no strawberry pieces in this.”

I am 100% sure he did not.

Me: “Oh, okay. No worries. I can remake it for you really quickly!”

Customer: *Scoffs* “Good, because I’m allergic to strawberries!”

Me: “…”