My husband and I are expecting our first baby and just found out we’re having a girl. I am talking with a coworker who is also pregnant and having a girl, as well.

Me: “We just found out we’re having a girl!”

Coworker: “And you’re happy about that? You didn’t want a boy first?”

Me: “Not really. I’d be happy either way, but I am really excited to be having a girl.”

Coworker: “Is your husband disappointed?”

Me: “Uh, no. He’s thrilled. He was actually really hoping for a girl; he’s probably more excited than I am.”

She didn’t say much after that but I got the impression she wasn’t happy about having a girl.

I am Australian, eighteen years old, and on a gap year: a year-long working holiday taken in between finishing high school and starting university. I am working as a camp counsellor, and this is my first ever group of campers.  

We are in the cabin after dinner, and I am preparing the girls — aged nine and ten — to go to a welcome event at the campfire. I’ve sent the other counsellors ahead to save us some good logs to sit on, assuring them that I can get the girls ready on my own.

Me: “Okay, girls! We’re leaving in two minutes for the campfire. Make sure you have a water bottle, a jumper, and a torch! There will be mozzies, so put on some bug repellent if you haven’t already!”

The girls all stop rushing around the cabin and stare at me. Nobody says anything, but there are looks of absolute confusion on their faces. They look at each other, at me, and back at each other. I am equally confused, wondering why they’ve all suddenly stopped getting ready.

Then, it dawns on me. In my accent, I pronounce water as “wah-dah,” and none of the keywords I’ve used are common words here.

Me: “Sorry, girls! You need to bring a—” *putting on the thickest fake American accent that I can* “—water bottle a sweater and a flashlight! And there will be mosquitos!”

The message was received, and the girls started frantically rummaging through their bags again.  

We got there in the end!

I am the author of this story of a previous associate that, after making a big deal of legal breaks and scheduling, claimed to my store manager that I had fired her. I became involved in a minor HR case that was tossed out the window due to no evidence that such a thing had occurred. I haven’t thought about this associate in years, but I definitely remember her.

One night, I get called to customer service to help dispute a customer’s problem with our return policy. Lo and behold, it is the former employee that is berating my cashier. We lock eyes and she immediately shuts up. Feelings of irritation bloom, but I push them aside and put on the best, overly-sugary customer service voice that we all have.

Me: “All righty, what can I help out with?”

Cashier: “She would like to return this belt. It’s broken, but there are no tags and no receipt.”

Customer: *Curtly* “Yeah, and you didn’t have any more belts, so I just want a refund.”

I take a look at the belt to see if there is anything we can do. The belt is completely destroyed; the buckle is torn off and there are tears connecting the holes. Our last-ditch option would be to find a belt on the sales floor, but since she said she didn’t find any in stock, she’s sealed the fact that she won’t be getting a refund.

Me: “Why, I’m surprised at you, [Customer]. You know our policies. You know we can’t return anything without the tags and receipt.”

Customer: *Glaring at me* “[Location] lets me return things without the tag or receipt all the time.”

Me: “Oh, will they? Well, I’ll have to give them a call and fix that problem. However, we won’t be returning this for you today. There is no way to get it back into our system without a receipt or a tag. Sorry about that.”

Customer: “You can’t look it up in the system or whatever?”

Me: “We’re not supposed to, but I could humor you. Which store did you purchase it at? What method of payment?”

Customer: “At [Location] with cash.”

Me: “Ah, I’m afraid we’re hitting a brick wall again. We don’t have access to [Location]’s purchases, and a cash tender won’t be enough to identify your previous purchases.”

Customer: “THIS IS F****** BULLS***!”

Me: “Please watch your language, [Customer]; this is a family-friendly store. I’m sorry we couldn’t resolve your issue today. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

She grabs her destroyed belt and stomps out of the store.

Cashier: “What just happened? She was cussing me out before you got here, and then she went silent.”

Me: “She used to work here a couple of years ago and accused me of firing her. She was mad because I wouldn’t let her go to lunch on a three-hour shift.”

Cashier: *Pauses* “I’m glad I never got to work with her.”

Related:
Won’t Be Long Before You (Lunch) Break

My boyfriend and I have been trying to adopt a dog for a couple of months. We’re not having any luck because our landlord only allows dogs under twenty-five pounds and small dogs get snapped up quickly where I live. I’m scrolling through a rescue shelter website one day when I find a corgi/Boston terrier mix that would be perfect for us. They are presenting him and several other dogs at an adoption fair the following weekend, and we decide to go.

On the day of the event, we head down to the location to find a madhouse. Due to the high amount of stress and multiple new people, the dogs are barking up a storm, acting very rambunctious in their crates. This is common, and we understand the dog isn’t going to act like that all the time, so we still want to see him. It’s a first-come basis, and we are about halfway down the list, so we wait patiently. We get to see the corgi in his crate beforehand and already know we’ll love him. 

When it’s our turn, we notice that none of the dogs have been adopted yet. The volunteer lets us take the dog out of his crate and outside the building for some one-on-one time. The volunteer gives us the rundown on the corgi.

Volunteer: “And I do have to let you know the way he acts in the crate inside is not a reflection of how he normally acts.”

Boyfriend: “Oh, we know. Lots going on in there; it’s kind of hard for them not to get excited with so many people around. Once he has time to be in a neutral environment, I’m sure he’ll calm down.”

The volunteer was dumbfounded. We later learned the other dogs weren’t adopted because the people thought they’d act this rambunctious and loud all the time, not giving them a chance to really show what they were like. It was sad, really. We adopted our little corgi, and he is one of the calmest dogs we’ve ever had.

My husband, two-year-old daughter, and I are at a popular furniture store. Before we go up the escalator to enter the main part of the store, I take my daughter to use the restroom. The restrooms happen to be near where the drop-off childcare area is, which is closed due to the health crisis. The elevators are located there, as well, including where the carts are.

An employee watches us walking toward that area and steps in front of me, blocking me from the restrooms.

Employee: “The child’s area is closed.”

Me: “Yes, I know. I’m actually just taking my daughter to the restroom.”

I try to walk around them and they step in front of me again.

Employee: “Ma’am, I told you, the child’s area is closed! You can’t take your daughter there.”

Me: “I’m just trying to take my daughter to the restroom before we join my husband upstairs.”

They huff at me but stand aside to let us through. My husband has already gone upstairs via the elevators with a cart. When my daughter and I finish, my daughter wants to go up the escalator, which involves walking past the employee again. They block us again.

Employee: “The carts are over there and you can take the elevator.”

Me: “My husband is already upstairs with a cart. We’d like to take the escalator.”

Employee: “But the carts are over there! You have to get a cart.”

Me: “My husband already grabbed a cart and is waiting for us upstairs. Please stop blocking us.”

Employee: “FINE! Do whatever you want, then. Don’t blame me because you don’t listen.”

Me: “Pretty sure I’m not the one that’s not listening.”