Here in Australia, we have a fairly low infection rate during the health crisis compared to many other countries, mainly due to our fairly strict but not infallible quarantine methods. As a result, most of us do not know anyone who has been affected by the illness. Many of my friends are conspiracy theorists and spout drivel about how it’s just a hoax to control the masses.

It just reminds me of a discussion I had about another disease with my father after I discovered that he buried building rubble in the backyard.

Me: “I dug up some fibro pieces in the yard today. That has asbestos in it, hasn’t it?”

Dad: “Yeah, probably. It’s nothing to worry about.”

Me: “It is worrying, especially seeing as it causes asbestosis.”

Dad: “I don’t believe in that. I’ve worked with that stuff for years and don’t have any lung problems. It’s just a hoax, probably made up by lawyers to get money.”

Me: “Really? What about all those people who die from it?”

Dad: “I’ve never met anyone who has it, so it can’t be true, and just about everyone I know has worked with it at some time in the past.”

Within a few months, Dad’s best friend, who was in his late seventies, was diagnosed with incurable lung disease linked to asbestos. He had last worked with it at the age of nineteen. A friend of Mum’s was also diagnosed; hers was from a childhood game of using asbestos products as chalk. The final straw was Dad’s sister passing due to the disease. A couple of years after her passing, it was discovered that an insulation company had pumped loose asbestos into her ceiling illegally, after advertising that they used a clean paper waste product. Her house and many others had to be demolished; my poor cousin lost his mother, house, and all of her belongings due to this.  

I only hope that my conspiracy theory friends don’t find out the hard way, too, though it would have to take that to convince some of them. Dad definitely is a believer now.

The UK shuts down on Christmas. Almost nothing is open, especially nothing corporate. I am in a London “village” on Christmas morning, when it is 0°C. Everything is shut except [Coffee Chain]. I haven’t had anything to eat or drink, so I go in and order a terrible coffee.

In front of me is a homeless guy, and they are lavishing attention on him. It is clearly a free coffee, and they are checking that he has everything he wants. 

But it gets better. I’m drinking my coffee outside; we’re at tier four lockdown, so cafes are takeaway only. I’m a few metres from the homeless guy. A van stops. A guy jumps from the van, carrying a large, full shopping bag.

Van Guy: *To the homeless guy* “This is for you. It’s got hats and gloves and socks and leggings and donuts and crisps. I’ve given away six so far.”

It turns out that this guy is driving around southwest London and giving homeless people things they might really need to get them through the next few days or weeks. My heart swells with Dickensian Christmas spirit. 

The homeless guy demurs, but the van guy then pulls out a roll of cash and gives him a couple of £5, wishes him a merry Christmas, and gets back in the van.

Homeless Guy: *With a huge smile* “That was nice.”

Me: “Amazing.”

We exchanged pleasantries and season’s greetings. I feel better about humans.

This story is part of our Feel Good roundup for January 2021!

Read the next Feel Good roundup for January 2021 story!

Read the Feel Good roundup for January 2021!

It is the middle of the global health crisis. I enter a fast food restaurant just behind an older gentleman who pulls down his mask around his chin the second he enters the door. Most of the dining area has been closed off, except for two tables by the ordering counter. The gentleman notices this.

Customer: “What happened to all the tables?”

He wanders over to the pastries, mask still down, to look at them, and then he steps up to order. There is a plastic barrier between the register and customer, but he leans to the side so there is nothing between him and the register.

Customer: “I’ll have a coffee, and one of those muffins.”

Cashier: *Enters the order* “Okay, and will that be anything else?”

Customer: *Leans over the counter* “Where’s my coffee? Will you bring my coffee?”

The cashier points at a small table to the left.

Cashier: “Someone will bring it there. That’ll be [price], please.”

Customer: *Leans over the counter again* “What?”

Cashier: “[Price], please.”

Customer: “Where are all the tables?”

Cashier: “We had to remove them for health reasons, sir.”

Customer: “What?”

Cashier: “Health reasons. How would you like to pay?”

The customer pays and moves near to where I am standing. I quickly step up to order, not wanting to be anywhere near this guy, who still hasn’t put his mask back on. After I order, I wait to the side for my food and the guy walks back up to the cashier.

Customer: “Where’s my coffee? Will you bring it to me?”

Cashier: *Points at the table again* “Someone will bring it there soon.”

He gets his coffee after a minute and goes to sit down at one of the tables to have his coffee and muffin. After another minute, he gets back up and starts looking at the place where utensils and napkins usually would be. Most restaurants no longer set them out for health reasons, including this one. I back away when he comes near me with his mask still off. He then marches up to the counter and leans around the plastic barrier.

Customer: “Where are the napkins? And what happened to all the tables?”

The cashier grabs some napkins and moves so the barrier is between her and the customer.

Cashier: “You need to put on a mask while you’re not eating.”

Customer: “What?”

The cashier holds out the napkins and indicates her mask.

Cashier: “You need to wear a mask.”

He grabbed the napkins from her and stomped away without another word, scowling.

I know how petty I sound in this story; I totally believe I am in the wrong, as well. However, after losing a dear sweet family member the week before, I am beyond tired of the selfish and stupid people who refuse to do the bare minimum to save lives.

I am standing in a long queue that stretches back up the aisle.

Shopper: “Excuse me. Can I just get in there?”

She points to the nearly empty display next to where I am standing.

Me: “I’m sorry, no. You will have to wait. I can’t move aside.”

Shopper: *Angry* “I just want to look at the chocolates!”

Me: “And you’re not wearing your mask properly, so I don’t want you within two meters of me.”

Shopper: “I’m exempt!”

She is wearing the mask on her chin.

Me: “I’m sure you are, but I still don’t want you near me.”

Shopper: “Whatever.”

She goes to push past me, but I think quickly and grab the last chocolate bar off the shelf and put it in my basket.

She goes wide-eyed at me and begins screaming and grabbing at my basket. I, however, am considerably stronger than I look and manage to keep her away. A manager rushes over.

Manager: “What is going on here?”

Me: “Oh, I took the last chocolate bar from the shelf, and well, you can see how she is acting.”

Shopper: “You lying little b****! You knew I wanted that, you b****!”

Me: *To the manager* “I’m sorry, but I did get the item first and do not want to give it up.’

One of the people in the queue backs me up and the manager seems to think for a long while before speaking to the woman.

Manager: “I’m sorry, miss, but you will have to continue your shopping elsewhere. The discounted items do go quickly and it’s first come, first served.”

Shopper: “You are in it together!”

Manager: “Miss, please lower your voice or I will have to ask you to leave.”

She had an actual tantrum in the middle of the aisle, threw her basket to the floor, and barged into the manager. She knocked a display to the floor on her way out. The manager shook his head and walked away.

I did buy the chocolate bar, and it tasted amazing.

Related:
Sweet Revenge

I work at a restaurant as a waitress. I am waiting on two men. 

Customer #1: “Pull your mask down, sweetie.”

Customer #2: “Yeah, we need to see you to give you a tip.”

Me: “Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I’m not going to pull my mask down.”

Customer #1: “If you don’t do it, you don’t get a tip!”

He dramatically waves a quarter in front of me.

Offended, I go find the manager, a tough-as-nails woman in her sixties who doesn’t put up with people’s crap. When I find her and tell her, she is immediately furious and goes to talk to them. When one of the men sees her, he goes pale.

Manager: “[CUSTOMER #1]! How dare you treat my waitress like a cheap piece of meat?! What would your mother think? Now apologize!”

Customer #1: “S-sorry.”

Manager: “Now get out and don’t come back! I’m filing a report against you!”

The men quickly left, and my manager did file a police report. The man was warned and banned from the restaurant.

Related:
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 8
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 7
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 6
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 5
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 4