Our counter is quite high up, and if someone stands close to it, we can’t see anything below their chest. A rather short lady comes up, already looking done with the entire world.

I’m still counting out the previous customer’s loose change when she addresses me.

Customer: “I’d like to purchase a tea, please.”

Me: “I’ll be right with you, ma’am, once I’ve straightened up my register.”

Customer: “Have you heard me? I’d like to purchase a tea.”

Me: *Done counting.* “Yes, ma’am, one tea. Will that be all for you today?”

She gives me a sarcastic look like “of course it is!”. So I decided not to press it further. I ring up her total and turn around to make her tea. Facing the coffee maker on the other end of the bar now, though, a previous customer (a regular) shows up, apologetically pointing at her tea.

Regular: “I’m so sorry, but there is a yucky-looking eyelash floating in my tea.”

Me: “Oh, no worries! I’ll replace that for you.”

Before I can remake her tea, my boss needs me for something quick. The regular notices and gestures to go to my boss first, saying she has no rush.

Coming back after less than a minute (and my quickly distracted ADHD brain frazzled), I realize I now have two tea orders open. I lost sight of the grumpy lady during all this, but she has made her way to the side of the bar where the coffee maker and the tea supplies are.

Customer: “What’s this? You’d think my tea would be here already! I deliberately went to the toilet first, so I wouldn’t have to wait. And it’s not here.”

Me: *Forcing my retail smile.* “Your tea is coming right up, ma’am. Been called away for a second, it’s busy busy!”

It takes literally seconds to make it. I put the glass on a saucer, as is custom, and serve it to her.

Customer: “Uhm, maybe leave out the saucer? I’m leaning on a crutch! How do you expect me to…? Ugh. Do you have a tray or something?”

Only now I see her mobility aid, obscured by our high counter at first. Not sure how the tray will help her, but I fetch her one.

Me: “Apologies, I can also bring it to your table if you like, if you’d show me where you’d like to be seated?”

Customer: “No. You’re soooo busy. I got it.”

She haphazardly throws a tea strainer on the tray, reaches over the bar to stick her hand in the box with the complimentary little cookies – that we normally neatly place on the saucer with the sanitary use of tongs – flings it on there as well, and huffs and puffs away.

I’m breathing in deep to regain some composure, then get reminded of the regular whose tea I’m yet to replace.

Me: “I’m so sorry. I’ll get your tea right away. It’s busy…”

Regular: “Listen. I have eyes. I can see you are busy and dealing with crap. I got time. You just chill, okay? You’re doing great.”

I thanked her, made her tea, gave her an extra cookie, and went on with my shift. On her way out, the regular waved, blew me kisses, gave a thumbs up, and said:

Regular: “Don’t let them drive you mad! Thanks again!”

Oh, the contrast.

I’m attending a free “Intro to Photography” class at the community center.

Instructor: “Alright, everyone, welcome! Tonight’s about the basics: light, composition, and using the camera you’ve got. Don’t worry, no jargon, no tech overload. Just a comfortable introduction.”

Half the class nods eagerly, but one guy in the back, arms folded and smirking, raises his hand.

Show-Off: “What’s your stance on full-frame sensors versus crop sensors for dynamic range at higher ISOs?”

Instructor: “Good question. In short, full-frame sensors usually handle noise better because they’ve got more surface area to capture light. But for beginners, the difference isn’t something you’ll notice right away. Composition and lighting will matter more.”

The instructor keeps going, but barely a slide later:

Show-Off: “Yeah, but what about pixel pitch? Doesn’t that make crop sensors superior in certain conditions?”

Instructor: *Still smiling.* “Pixel pitch plays a role, sure, but again, that’s splitting hairs most novices don’t need to worry about. The important thing is learning to control exposure and framing.”

A few people shift in their seats, sensing the tension. The instructor starts a section on the “rule of thirds.”

Show-Off: *Interrupting again.* “Okay, but how does that apply if you’re shooting RAW and planning to crop extensively in post-production?”

Instructor: *Calmly.* “It still applies. Cropping doesn’t change the principles of balance in an image. It just gives you flexibility.”

Show-Off: *Leaning back smugly.* “Hmm. I don’t know about that…”

The class grows restless. The instructor sets down the clicker and looks straight at him.

Instructor: “You know, based on the questions you’re asking, it seems like you already have an advanced level of knowledge of photography.”

Show-Off: *Grinning.* “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

Instructor: “So that means one of two things. Either you came here with the sole intention of showing off how much you know and undermining a free class for novice photographers in the community… just to be an a**hole. Or you’re an idiot who can’t read, because the flyer said ‘Introductory Class.’ Which one is it?”

The room erupts in muffled laughter. The show-off shrinks back in his chair, suddenly very quiet.

Instructor: *Cheerfully to the group.* “Alright. Back to the basics. Who wants to learn how to take a photo without cutting off someone’s head?”

I’m a head lifeguard at my local pool, so I essentially supervise everything that goes on in the building and I am the one responsible for any emergencies, “can I see the manager” requests and any other incidents that pop up when I’m at work. 

I started in this role at sixteen (I am now eighteen), which was probably a questionable decision on management’s part but hey I’ll take a promotion. I had this interaction last week:

Patron: “Oh are you one of the swim instructors?”

Me: “No but I’m the Head Instructor Guard so I supervise lessons, how can I help?”

Patron: “There’s no way you’re the supervisor; you look like a child! You should be in swimming lessons as a student.”

Me: *Awkwardly laughs.* “Well I can assure you that I’m the supervisor and an adult.”

Patron: “No you aren’t.” *Walks away.*

I just looked at reception like “did that really happen?” He didn’t even end up asking me a question before he left.

I work at a community center in the main gathering hall, mostly barista work. There are some medical offices on the top floor, but we bar/host staff don’t have much to do with them.

I had some bad news this day. I just came back from crying in our storeroom. A man approaches the bar with a pee cup in his hand, the ones that doctors give out for urine samples, filled and all. He motions with it as if he wants me to take it from him.

Man: “I thought my medical exam required a urine sample. Turns out it didn’t. Now I’m stuck with this, and I don’t know what to do with it. Can you…?”

Me: *Flinching away from the biohazard I am so graciously offered.* “… Sir …there are restrooms down the hall where you can dispose of the contents.”

Man: “Oh, yeah, that’s also an option, thanks!”

And he goes on his merry way. I turn around to my coworker, who is choking with stifled laughter.

Coworker: “Did he REALLY try to give you his P***-CUP?”

Me: “Well, it was good for one thing. I’m no longer feeling sad!”

And we both proceed to double over laughing. I had to crouch down behind the counter to hide because we were still laughing when the man passed us again on his way to the exit.

I work in a community recreation centre. I’m manning the front desk with my manager, who is working her last day. A woman approaches with a reusable water bottle and starts speaking to the manager with a sour tone.

Customer: “Excuse me, I just tried the water fountain near the yoga room and the water tastes… metallic.”

Manager: “Oh, yeah, that one’s connected to the older plumbing line. Still safe to drink, just not filtered like the bottle-filling station over here.”

Customer: “Well, that’s not acceptable. I shouldn’t have to hunt for decent water in a facility I pay for!”

Manager: “We do recommend using the filling stations, especially since they’re filtered and chilled.”

Customer: “Then why even have that nasty one working? You should shut it down if it’s not perfect.”

Manager: “We keep it for emergencies or if the others are in use.”

Customer: “It’s just lazy.”

She gestures to her spotless, logo-covered stainless steel bottle.

Manager: “Looks like you survived the ordeal. Let me know if you need a medal or a refill.”

Got to love a last-day comment with no consequences!