(I am a cripplingly shy teenage girl, in line at a dollar store. The elderly customer behind me has noticed my shirt, which says ‘Top Ten Reasons I Procrastinate:’, and is otherwise blank.)

Customer: “Hey, I like your shirt! You know, I wanted to procrastinate, but I kept putting it off.”

Me: *laughs nervously*

(The man starts putting his items on the conveyor belt.)

Customer: “We’re gonna have fuuuuun tonight.”

(I glance back and notice that he’s buying 10 bottles of baby oil, and nothing else. I turn bright red and turn away.)

Customer: *laughing* “Aw, I think I scared her.”

(An elderly woman has just come up behind the elderly customer.)

Woman: “What’s that?”

(The customer explains what’s just happened to the woman—his wife.))

Woman: “Oh! Haha!” *she walks up to me* “You see, things tend to dry out when you get older!”

(I’m stocking a shelf. I notice a customer with her five-year-old daughter. They both look like they’ve been through a hard time.)

Little Girl: “Mama, I’m hungry.”

(The mother looks near tears.)

Mother: “I know baby; I’m sorry. Mommy only has $5, so we have to find food that will stretch until next week when mommy gets paid.”

Little Girl: “Okay.”

(I see a another customer with a baby in a cart walk up to the woman.)

Another Customer: “Excuse me, I couldn’t help but overhear you. I don’t mean to put you on the spot, but I’d like to help you.”

(The other customer holds out a $20 bill. The mother starts to cry.)

Mother: “You don’t even know me, and you’re trying to help me. My husband walked out. I work a minimum wage job, and it’s just been so hard. You’re the first person who has shown me such kindness in a long time, and you’re a stranger to me.”

Another Customer: “I’m someone who thinks the world would work a bit better if people paid it forward a little more. I might not know you, but I know you’ve been dealt a bad hand. When’s the last time you ate? I’m sure you’re making sure your daughter eats, but when’s the last time you did?”

Mother: “How did you—”

Another Customer “Because you’re a mother.”

Mother: “I… thank you so much! This will really help. Are you sure?”

Another Customer: “I’m positive. You know you can get some of the stuff here ‘2 for 1’, so that can help.”

Mother: “Thank you… thank you so much! I’ll find a way to pay you back.”

Another Customer: “There’s no need to do that. I hope things get better for you, and when they do, you can pay it forward.”

Mother: “Thank you so much.”

(I’m called to the front, so I don’t see the rest of the exchange. The mother and daughter come through my lane with a cart full of food.)

Little Girl: “Mommy, was that lady an angel?”

Mother: “Yes baby, she was.”

(Their total comes to just under the 25 dollars the mother had. I relate the story to my manager. When the other customer comes up with her daughter, my manager has a gift card for $20 waiting for her. That customer comes in every month or so, and we all refer to her as the angel.)

Customer: “Excuse me, but the back corner of the store is dark, and the lights are off.”

Me: “Oh! Give me a bit and I’ll go see what the issue is.”

(I go to the back room to see what’s up. As I get closer, I hear laughing, I open the door and see Coworker #1 and Coworker #2 laughing and holding an inflatable ball.)

Coworker #2: “Hi [me], we’re playing back room volleyball!”

(I don’t say anything and lean over and flip the light switch back on.)

Coworker #1: “Oh, s***! How long has that been off?!”

(It’s a busy Saturday, and both our cash registers are lined up with customers. A woman is stood next to the line-up, clearing her throat and trying to get my attention. She finally shoves her way to the cash, ahead of the line-up.)

Customer: “I need to return all these stickers. I was charged $7, when they’re only supposed to be $2!”

(I’d normally send her to the back of the line, but at this point it will be faster just to serve her and get her out of the way.)

Me: “I’m sorry about that, sometimes when we’re busy a cashier can miss a mistake like that. I just need your receipt.”

Customer: “I don’t have my receipt! I shouldn’t have to keep my receipt; you made the mistake!”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am; but I cannot do a return or exchange without a receipt. There has been an issue lately of people trying to return items they didn’t pay for.”

Customer: “Are you calling me a thief? You charged me $5 extra per sticker, and I bought ten stickers! Give me my money!”

Me: “Again, ma’am, I’m sorry. I cannot do a return or exchange without a receipt. If you’d like to wait a few minutes, my manager will be back from her break. Honestly, she’s only going to tell you the same thing, however.”

Customer: “This is ridiculous, I’m not waiting around for anyone! You’re wasting my time; now give me my money back! This happens all the time here! You guys didn’t ask for a receipt the last time! I’m a paying customer! I bought a bunch of these stickers before, and the same thing happened!”

Me: “If this has happened to you with this item before, why didn’t you confirm they were ringing in at the correct price the second time?”

(The woman turns beet red. Without saying anything, she throws the stack of stickers at me and storms out the door, shoving past people as she goes.)

Next Customer: “They really need to give you kids hazard pay for this s***.”

(I’m in line at my local dollar store. The customer in front of me is short on her transaction of diapers and wipes.)

Customer: “Is it okay if I exchange for cheaper wipes real quick?”

Cashier: *rolls her eyes* “FINE, but you better be quick about it! There’s a customer behind you.”

Me: “Oh, I’m in no hurry take your time. I only have a couple of items anyway.”

(The customer hurries to the back of the store, grabs the cheaper wipes, and hurries back.)

Customer: “Sorry about that.”

Cashier: *rolls her eyes again* “Your total is now $6.79.”

Customer: “That’s still too high… I only have $6.00.”

Cashier: “It’s $6.79, NOT $6.00.”

(At this point, the customer is clearly distressed and embarrassed while she tries to decide what to put back.)

Me: *to the customer* “Hey i can cover the difference. No worries.”

Customer: *smiles*

Cashier: “You SURE you want to do that?”

Me: “Uh, yeah, why not? It’s only 79 cents.”

Cashier: “Fine!”

(Hearing the commotion, the manager comes over.)

Manager: “Is everything alright?”

Cashier: “Oh, this lady wants to help this other one with her purchase.”

Manager: *to me* “Oh, that is very nice of you.”

(As soon as the manager leaves, the cashier instantly goes back to being rude while she rings up my items. Needless to say, I reported the cashier to the same manager. Last I heard, the cashier got a pink slip!)