My two-year-old daughter loves anyone who will talk to her, but has made firm friends with one particular cashier in a local supermarket. We were just going to line up at the self-checkouts when this cashier appeared at my shoulder, having just clocked off from a long, early shift. As always, she asked how we were doing and how our Easter went, so as my daughter began gabbling about candles, I translated and explained that it was also her birthday on the weekend. The cashier had to run and pay for her things before leaving, so I bid her to go home and rest as we went our separate ways.

Just as I was scanning our groceries, she stopped by again and handed my daughter a Kinder Surprise egg as a birthday present! She rarely lets us get away without at least a smile and a wave — and has more than once kept my daughter busy while I was packing bags — but this little act of kindness really blew me away.  

Unfortunately, by the time I’d finished, my daughter had started eating the egg through the foil…

(I am in a well-known UK-based pharmacy and drugstore, looking for a hand cream. I am wearing ripped jeans, combat boots, and a leather jacket, and have very short hair. I smile at the staff as I walk in and set off in search of the right aisle, minding my own business. As I open a tube to smell the cream, the worker beside the door rushes up and snatches the bottle out of my hand.)

Worker: “Can you not open the products? What are you looking for?”

Me: “Oh, sorry, I was just smelling it. I’m fine, thanks.”

(I think that’s the end of it, as she stalks off. I pick up my items and turn the corner, checking out the makeup. As I swatch a lipstick tester, the same worker storms up and glares at me.)

Worker: “I said don’t open the products! You’ll have to pay for it now!”

Me: “Excuse me? This is a tester, and I haven’t even touched it yet!”

Worker: “Fine. Sit down. I’ll match a colour to you. You clearly need it; whoever matched your current foundation must be colour-blind.”

Me: *taken aback by the sheer rudeness of this woman* “Er. No, thanks.”

(I walked away, irritated, but still with some time to kill before my bus home, so I browsed some other items. I could see the worker following me closely and glaring if I so much as reached out towards a product. Eventually, I had enough. I went to the till, with her following. The girl at the checkout scanned my items and my loyalty card and told me my total. As I handed her my money, the rude worker stormed over and grabbed the iodine pen, scribbling all over my note, a smug grin on her face. I waited as nothing happened to my money, and silently fumed as I was handed my receipt. I felt her glare boring into my back as I left the shop, seriously having to bite down on my tongue to stop myself from yelling at her. I get that workers are supposed to upsell and offer assistance, but judging me outright by my appearance, being incredibly rude about my makeup, and being convinced I’m a thief with no reason is taking it a bit far.)

(My husband calls his mother over the hands-free system while we’re driving, which mystifies our two-year-old daughter.)

Daughter: “Hear Nanna! Hear Nanna!”

Me: “Yes, we can hear Nanna on the phone over the speakers!”

(The next day, we have to call Nanna again, but there’s an issue with the connection, so my husband has to repeat the voice command. Our daughter reacts in the same way. After the call is over:)

Daughter: “Hear Nanna! Hear Nanna!”

Me: *figuring out what she wants* “Oh, no, it only works for Daddy’s voice.”

Daughter: “Hear Nanna! Hear Nanna!” *pauses* “CAALL MAAAM!”

(We could not contain the shock or laughter. We know she’s a total parrot, but she never ceases to amaze us with how much she absorbs.)

(My husband has a YouTube playlist running, and the current song is by a singer with a surprisingly high vocal range. At this point, Ireland and Britain are in for a few days of serious snow and minus zero temperatures.)

Husband: “You know, if he didn’t have a wife and child, I’d say he was castrated.”

Me: “What does being castrated have to do with having a wife?”

Husband: *to daughter, pointing out the window* “Look! Snow!”

Me: “Nice deflection, dear.”

(It was snowing, but the timing was perfect…)

(I arrive at the petrol station to fill up my tank. There are three cars ahead of me, including two who are already at the pumps. When the cars leave, the car ahead of me moves forward, but instead of moving to the first pump so I can go to the second one, the driver stops at the second, essentially leaving the pump in front of her unoccupied and me stuck behind her unable to access it. I wave at her when she exits her car and politely ask:)

Me: “Hi, would you mind moving your car forward, so I can use this pump and you can use the other?”

Woman: “No, I won’t be long. And you can just go around the station and reverse to the first pump, if you’re in a rush.”

(She then turned her back to me and started pumping petrol. I was pretty annoyed, as she would just have needed to move her car forward a few meters so we could both pump, instead of me having to reverse, drive around the station, and then reverse again to access the first pump because of the one-way system in place. I was in no rush, but I decided to do exactly what she advised, because she obviously did not think it through. I went around the station and parked in front of her, effectively blocking her exit, and started taking my sweet time pumping. I could see her waiting for me to finish, so she could exit. Once I was done, I slowly walked toward the station to pay. There was a queue at checkout. I could see that lady through the windows, growing impatient because she couldn’t leave. In the end, she decided to awkwardly reverse and drive all around the station to be able to exit it. That may have been petty of me, but I have no regrets. Maybe next time, she’ll consider the people behind her.)