(I and a friend are sitting in a fast food place, eating our food and talking. We are both trans (MTF) and are very early in our transitions, so it is noticeable. We have just finished our burgers and are about to get up to leave, when the store manager walks over with two small desserts. She places them on the table in front of us.)

Me: “What’s this? We didn’t order dessert.”

Manager: “It’s on the house. This is just my way of saying congrats on living your lives the way you want. I have an aunt that’s a member of the LGBT community, and the stuff she has to go through on a daily basis… I can’t even comprehend. This is just my way of showing support.”

(The manager walked away, and my friend and I began tearing up. It was years ago, but it made our day, and I will never forget that kindness!)

This story is part of the Pride roundup!

Read the next Pride roundup story!

Read the Pride roundup!

(I’m at a fast food chain that has several different types of burgers with different toppings. I have a coupon for two of a certain burger, and in small print at the bottom, it says “may be substituted with Alternate Burger.” Behind the till is a young man, and behind him is a woman. It’s pretty clear from their body language that she’s his supervisor and that he’s terrified of her.)

Me: “Hi, I’d like to use this coupon, but my order might be a little more complicated since it will be for two different people…”

(The supervisor interrupts with a bored tone.)

Supervisor: “So four [Alternate Burger]s?”

Me: “Oh, no, that’s not what I meant. Sorry.”

(I turn back to the actual cashier, while the supervisor rolls her eyes and walks into the back.)

Me: “I’m not using the coupon twice; I just meant that I want the two [Original Type of Burger]s, but they’re going to have very different toppings on them because it’s for two different people with different food allergies.”

Cashier: “Sure, no problem. What will be on the first one?”

(I give my order and step off to the side to wait. The supervisor comes to the counter with a bag.)

Supervisor: “Four [Alternate Burger]s!”

(I don’t look up because that’s not my order, but she begins waving to get my attention.)

Supervisor: “[Alternate Burger]s! Ma’am! Your food is ready!”

Me: “I’m sorry, but that’s not what I ordered”.

Supervisor: “Yes, it is. Your ‘COMPLICATED’ order is all ready to go. You know, normally we don’t let people use the coupon twice, but I’ve let it slide. Take your food.”

(Meanwhile, the cashier comes to the table with another bag.)

Cashier: “Two [Original Type of Burger (with correct toppings)]!”

Me: “Thank you so much!”

(I give the cashier a big smile, grab my actual food, and start to leave. The supervisor looks furious and walks away.)

Cashier: “Are you sure you don’t want those burgers? We’re just going to throw them out, and she’ll be a lot less angry if she sees they’re gone.”

Me: “I’m really sorry, but there’s nobody at my house who could eat them. I hope your evening gets better, though!”

Cashier: “I doubt it. Enjoy your meal and have a great night!”

(I have worked at a fast food joint for over a year consecutively and I’ve been trying to get more hours unsuccessfully since the beginning. I do, however, have the responsibility for the store room because being 1.90 meters I can reach the top shelves. One day my boss informs me that ‘Arbejdstilsynet’ (the government’s office for working conditions) had come by while I was off.)

Boss: “So, yeah, they told us you are not allowed to stack the boxes above shoulder height.”

Me: “But I do stack them up shoulder height and no further.”

Boss: “Yeah, but the guy from ‘Arbejdstilsynet’ still complained.”

Me: “If you get in trouble over that again, just tell them I am 1.90.”

Boss: “I did; I told them ‘the storeroom manager is two meters tall.’ Shut them up.”

Me: “Hah, great… Wait, ‘storeroom manager’? Does this mean I am getting promoted?”

Boss: “Hah! Fat chance!”

Me: “Aww…”

It is Friday afternoon and I have just gotten off school. My dad and I are on our way to pick up my mom from work before we go home. My dad decides to stop at the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant to buy me a strawberry and banana smoothie, since it is a hot day.

I am very tired as this week I was catching up on sleep from an AP exam I had the past Friday, I had an AP, baseball games, and started my new job.

The line at the drive-thru is really long and it is the type of drive-thru where it starts as two lanes then merges into one. My dad orders and we start to try to merge when this lady from the second lane pulls up and cuts in front of us. My dad and I are both upset as we are running late but we don’t do anything.

We get to pay when the cashier tells us that the lady who cut us off felt bad as she was in a hurry so she bought my smoothie. We decided to continue the chain and bought the order for the person behind us.

Ma’am, if you are out there, reading this, you not only restored my faith in humanity but you gave me a great ending to an exhausting week.

(A well-known burger place is running a promotion of 10 chicken nuggets for just under $1.50. I order the nuggets and fries at the drive-thru. When I reach the window, the employee looks at me, confused.)

Employee: “Um, can I help you?”

Me: “Yes, I ordered the nuggets and fries?”

(His eyes get huge, he leans out the window to stare at the truck ahead of me, which is leaving.)

Employee: “Uh, please wait one moment!”

(He races out of sight, presumably to check the queue of orders. He comes back, still looking confused.)

Employee: “I’m so, so sorry, ma’am. I recognize your voice. The lady in the car ahead of you never placed an order. She just paid for, and took, your meal.”

Me: “Well that’s a new one on me…”

(I paid for my order and got it, of course. Does anyone want to bet that she came back later, complaining that she got the ‘wrong order’ for the food she never ordered in the first place?)