I am exiting a music store at the same time an older man is walking in, and we slightly bump into each other. I’m about to apologize when:

Customer: “Stupid d*** kids! Always getting in the way!”

Me: “Sorry, sir, I—”

Customer: “What are you even doing in a music store?! Your generation doesn’t know about music! It’s all streaming and TikTok and…”

His voice trails off as he sees from the shape of my bag that I have purchased a vinyl record.

Customer: “So, they’re releasing teeny-boppers on vinyl now, are they? Trying to make themselves look cool?”

I show him my purchase of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.” Flummoxed, the customer then looks directly at me in the hopes of finding something else about me to blame on my generation.

Customer: “It’s so hot and sunny out and you’re wearing that hat! What happened, tried to turn your hair green like some punk and it failed? Young people always trying to look cool with their crazy hair and—”

I remove my hat to show my completely bald head, thanks to my alopecia.

Me: “Please, sir, keep going. This is becoming a fun game!”

The customer muttered something grumbly and stormed into the store, and I went home to listen to my album.

A few days after a large fire nearby made going outside impossible, I’m talking with my neighbor.

Me: “Plus, [My Cat] was extra grumpy that day since I wouldn’t let him out in the yard.”

Neighbor: “Why not?”

Me: *Pauses* “Because the smoke would be bad for his lungs.”

Neighbor: *Very condescending* “Cats don’t have lungs.”

I started a new medication after my blood pressure was persistently high, and on the first day, I unexpectedly became dizzy and nauseous while out and about town. I bought a small cup of fountain pop from a street vendor and then sat down against a building to get myself back together.

After about fifteen minutes, an older woman walked up to me, dropped some coins into my soda, and then gave me a package of muffins.

Woman: “Be strong. You can make it.”

Then, she walked away, while the only thing going through my head was, “Huh?!”

It took me several seconds to figure out what the h*** that was about, and then it hit me.

I’m really trying not to come off as bragging, but, lady… I am wearing an almost brand-new pair of Air Jordans that I spent $125 on, I have a $200 pair of wireless Beats headphones resting around my neck, I have a $600 iPhone in my hand and a laptop bag resting against me with the logo from MSI gaming laptops (hint: they aren’t the cheapest laptops on the market), and I’m wearing a polo shirt with my employer’s name and logo embroidered on it — a company that produces software.

Bless your heart and your generosity, lady, but you aren’t the most observant person, are you? Thanks for the muffins, anyway. They were actually pretty good and I felt much better!

I was a cashier at a grocery store that had a little bit of everything. One of my coworkers was known to dye her hair crazy but very pretty colors. Encouraged by her confidence, I went and did the same. I chose a brand with the color “Violet Dream.” My mother, who worked as a personal shopper in this store, did the bleaching and dying herself.

I was getting compliments galore from our regulars and coworkers alike when I got a nasty woman in my line. This “lady” was known for complaining, especially about me, since I wore sunglasses for a medical condition.

Me: “Hello, Mrs. [Customer]. Find everything all right today?”

Customer: “Hmph!”

She loaded her items onto my belt without a word. I glanced at my bagger and let him know how she liked her items bagged as I began scanning. She only had about seven items, so she quickly got to my payment terminal. That’s when she finally looked up.

Customer: “What is wrong with you?”

Surprised, I looked up. I half-expected her to be making a statement about my glasses.

Me: “Pardon?”

Customer: “First, you wear those glasses, and now your hair? Your parents must be ashamed of you.”

This hit a bit of a sore spot, as I had just lost my dad recently in a car crash. At this point, I didn’t care if I got in trouble.

Me: “Well. Considering I just lost my dad to a drunk driver and my mom did my hair for me, I’m pretty sure they don’t mind. But if you want to ask, my mother is right over there.”

I pointed to my mom, who was printing labels for her bags. My customer just huffed, finished paying, and stormed off without her receipt. She never talked to my mom, who found the whole incident funny but told me to call her over next time so she could go Momma Bear Mode.

California put out a new mask mandate for all businesses. At the time of this story, it had been in effect for almost an entire month.

I was on the door position on this particular day, which means I stood at the entrance to greet customers, scan their tickets if they had bought them online, and enforce the mask policy.

The day was slow, and I was bored until a maskless couple came in.

Me: “Hi, welcome to [Theater]! Would you like a mask?”

Wife: *Not stopping* “No, thanks.”

Me: *Following them* “It’s required.”

Wife: *Harshly* “No. Thanks.”

I walked back toward the front and handed the box of masks I was holding to my team lead. He then walked up to the couple, who had started ordering up at concessions.

Team Lead: “Ma’am, you and your husband have to wear masks or we’re going to have to ask you to leave.”

The couple immediately started arguing with not only him, but also with the assistant manager who came to back my team lead up.

After a bit, the wife stayed inside to argue with the assistant manager. Her husband stormed out toward the parking lot, leaving us with a truly astounding gem right before he exited.

Husband: “YOU’RE ALL SHEEP! BAAA! BAAAAA!”

I’ve never been more grateful for a mask than I was at that moment because it hid how hard I was trying not to laugh.

Related:
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 25
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 24
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 23
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 22
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 21