I come down with a simple cold, as confirmed by a negative test for the other thing and a doctor’s visit. It includes a lovely, phlegmy cough. We’re in a mask mandate for the entire state, with most businesses requiring masks, as well. Basically, wearing a mask is a habit for everyone at this point. I stop for gas before work and decide to surprise my office with some of this particular chain’s famous donuts.

Upon entering the gas station, I note several other people trying to go about their mornings, including one maskless man. I roll my eyes but mentally note to stay away from him. However, it’s not long before I also notice that he is purposefully getting into everyone’s personal space. He also has an energy about him that makes it clear he is looking for a fight, waiting for someone to say something to him about his lack of a mask.

I grab the donuts and get in line to check out. There are markings on the floor to keep people in line six feet apart, so I find myself standing next to the coffee and cappuccino machines. It is at this moment that the maskless gentleman decides he absolutely needs a coffee, and the only one that will do is from the machine directly next to me. It is also at this moment that I feel a slight tickle in my throat. Just as he’s reaching past me, I cough as loudly and dramatically as possible.

The look on his face is absolutely priceless as he scurries out of the gas station and back to his car. I let those around me know it is a confirmed simple cold, played up for dramatic effect, and we are all able to finish our business at the gas station in peace.

Related:
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 19
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 18
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 17
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 16
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 15

A couple of years ago, I was working in a petrol station. We had an air machine to fill your tyres, which operated by inserting a token you could buy from the counter.

A middle-aged, very well-dressed man came in and asked for an air token. I sold it to him, and he went out to fill his tyres. One token lasts for around six minutes, so that should be plenty enough for four tyres and then some. He came back after a couple of minutes.

Customer: “Your air machine is broken.”

Okay, fair enough, that happens quite often, but even more often, people don’t know how to use it. You insert a token, set your PSI, and fill your tyres; it’s super simple stuff, but people are idiots.

I went with him to the air machine.

Me: “What’s the problem?”

What he did next I just couldn’t believe. He inserted the token, set his PSI, took the nozzle, and just stood there holding it. I was about to ask what he was waiting for.

Customer: *Angrily* “See?! It’s not inflating!”

I was absolutely shocked that the man thought that tyres filled up with Bluetooth or magic after inserting the token.

In Kansas, you have to be eighteen to smoke and twenty-one to drink and gamble. I’m nineteen, but I look about sixteen, and this causes some confusion, but it’s never been a problem until this happened.

Me: *Going up to the counter* “Can I have some [Cigarettes], please? Here’s my ID.”

Clerk: “This isn’t you.”

Me: “What? Yes, it is. My hair’s shorter, and I’m wearing makeup in the picture, but it’s definitely me.”

Clerk: *Scoffs* “I know your kind. You come in, thinking you can scam us out of cigarettes and booze. Well, I’m not buying it. And I’m going to have to confiscate this.” 

Me: “You can’t keep that! Civilians are not allowed to keep IDs, even fake ones.”

Clerk: “You’re lucky I don’t just turn this over to the police. I’m going to destroy this thing right now.”

To my horror, she sticks my ID in the shredder behind her. I’m furious and upset, and I shout for the owner, who happens to be a friend of my mom. 

Owner: “Hey, [My Name]. What happened? You’re crying!”

Me: “She destroyed my ID!”

Owner: *To the clerk* “What?! You don’t have a right to do that! Go get your stuff; you’re fired. I’m so sorry, [My Name]. I’ll get your cigarettes for you.” 

The clerk tried to apologize and say she was doing him a favor, but he was having none of it and told her he’d file a police report on her later. Then, the clerk gave me a look to kill and stormed out with her purse. The owner of the gas station helped me get a new ID and did file a police report with the local police.

Unfortunately, the clerk did not take too well to being fired. She keyed my car, went to the bathroom on my mom’s front lawn, and tried to lure our dog out in traffic. I filed a restraining order, and my mom’s friend provided the tape to the court. The judge was not impressed by the clerk’s behavior, told her to stay away from me, and sentenced her to community service and a month in jail for defecating on my lawn.

A guy yelled at me for twenty minutes because he put regular gas in his diesel truck.

Guy: “I demand a refund!”

Me: “I can’t do that, sir.”

Then he yelled at me some more.

Me: “I don’t recommend you start your truck if you put the wrong fuel in it. You should call a tow and they can drain the tank.”

And then he yelled at me even more.

Guy: “You’re a female! You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

He started his truck. Or… he tried to. It made some weird noises.

And I got yelled at for that, too.

I work at a gas station, so naturally, we’ve got lottery. Today, we got hit HARD in the lottery department; a lot of $40 and $50 winners came through in a very short amount of time, until eventually, we had only $7 left in the lottery register. If the store manager or co-manager are in, that’s not a problem; they can just refill it from the safe. But all we had in today was a shift manager who isn’t authorized to touch the safe.

A guy came in with a $10 winner and handed it to me.

Me: “Unfortunately, we only have $7 in the register.”

And I put his ticket back on the counter. He just cocked an eyebrow and stared at me, so I stared back. There was just silence for a few moments before he looked at my shift manager.

Shift Manager: “Sorry, but we only have $7 in that register right now.”

The guy stared at him for a few seconds.

Customer: “I’m in here every day buying gas and cigarettes. Are you really gonna lose my business like this?”

Shift Manager: “Sorry, only the store manager can refill that register. There’s nothing we can do.”

The dude got all huffy and left with his ticket. What do these people think? Are we supposed to have a printing press or something? Are we supposed to just pull money out of our butts for them?