Customer: *distracted* “A sesame bagel, please, toasted with cream cheese.”
(I slice her bagel and put it in the toaster. While it’s toasting, I scoop out the right amount of cream cheese and put it on the deli paper.)
Customer: *suddenly annoyed* “Can you not finger-paint with my cream cheese, please?!”
(I’m shocked, but luckily, her bagel is finished toasting so I grab it and spread on the cream cheese. I go to wrap it in the deli paper when she stops me again.)
Customer: “Can you at least wrap it in a clean piece of paper?! I don’t want cream cheese crap on the OUTSIDE of my bagel!”
(Still shocked, I got a new sheet of deli wrap and proceeded to wrap her bagel. She snatched it from my hand and stalked to the register. I was still shaken from the encounter, but my coworkers had a lot of fun calling her “the bagel b****” for the rest of the day!)
(I am a receptionist in a corporate bank and I have to screen every call that I receive.)
Me: “Good morning, [Bank].”
Caller: “Hi, may I speak to your IT manager?”
Me: “May I know which company you are calling from, sir?”
Caller: “[Company].”
Me: “May I know the purpose of the call?”
Caller: “I would like to send a report.”
Me: “May I know what type of report, sir?”
Caller: “Look, mate, you are just the receptionist. Why are you asking 25 questions? Are you transferring my call or not?”
Me: “I’m afraid not, sir. Goodbye!” *hangs up*
(With that kind of attitude, especially when speaking in a demeaning way, may never get you through any call when you don’t even know who you would like to speak to. I’m just doing my job right, mate!)
(It is during summer and I am about nine years old. A few months ago, the city had decided to fix some nonexistent cracks in the sidewalks and make the residents pay about $500 each for it. Obviously, people complained, but the city informed them that the sidewalks were city property and that the residents had no right to decide whether the repairs were necessary. The residents tried to fight the cost being forced on them, but they lost. One of my neighbors is a bit of a grump who likes to turn tiny problems into huge issues. He also has a large garden which he tends to obsessively. When I’m walking past his house on the way to a friend’s place, I see a tiny flower (clearly a weed) growing between the cracks of the sidewalk. I pick it and tuck it behind my ear before continuing on my way. My friend isn’t home, though, so I go back to my house. I find my mom and the grumpy neighbor arguing on the front porch.)
Neighbor:*pointing at me* “There! There it is! See? In her hair! That’s the flower she stole!”
Mom: “That little thing? The way you were going on, I thought you meant an expensive flower, like an orchid or something.”
Neighbor: “It doesn’t matter! She’s a dirty thief!”
Me:*thinking I’m about to get in a lot of trouble* “But it was just a weed! It was growing between the sidewalk cracks.”
Neighbor: “I don’t care where it was growing! You stole it from me.”
Mom: “What exactly is it that you want me to do? She can’t put the flower back.”
Neighbor: “I know she can’t put the flower back. Do you think I’m stupid? She destroyed it, and I want her punished! If you refuse to address this matter, I’ll have to involve the police.”
Mom:*pulling me behind her* “Go right ahead.”
Neighbor:*shocked* “What?”
Mom:*trying not to smirk* “As you well know after those repairs, the sidewalks are the property of the city, not you. The city has no laws forbidding children from picking flowers. Now, if that will be all, I think it’s time for you to leave.”
Neighbor:*sputtering* “But… but… she stole from me!”
Mom: “No, she clearly didn’t. But you’re on private property, and I’ve already asked you to leave once. If you stay here, you’ll be trespassing, and I’ll have to involve the police.”
Neighbor:*leaves, looking like he just swallowed a lemon*
Me:*staring in shock at my mom, who’s normally very soft-spoken and non-confrontational*
Mom: “Never give in to people like that, honey. If you do, they’ll walk all over you forever.”
(We are a small boutique and we are expected to greet every customer who comes into the store in a friendly manner, and ask if they are looking for anything specific since sometimes people need help looking for a gift or an item they recently saw. A lady comes with a sleeping newborn strapped to her front.)
Me: “Hi there! How are you?”
(The lady glares at me and gives a tiny wave. Confused, I give her a few minutes to walk around before approaching her.)
Me:*in a calm, normal volume* “Was there anything specific you were looking for today? A gift, maybe?”
Lady:*in a fierce whisper* “SHHHH!”
Me:*whispering* “I’m sorry. Let me know if you have any—”
Lady:*still whispering angrily* “I’m just trying to keep him asleep; that’s why I left the noisy street, so kindly keep your noise DOWN!”
(Offended and bemused, I go silently back to the register. Soon another customer enters. I approach them so I’m not shouting across the store.)
Me: “Hello! How are you today?”
Customer: “Great thanks!”
Lady:*charging up to us and almost shouting* “CAN YOU PLEASE JUST BE QUIET FOR ONCE?!”
(We both stare at her and the baby wakes up and soon starts screaming.)
Lady: “Well, thanks for THAT. Guess I’m all done shopping now!”
(She leaves in a huff.)
Customer: “Well. Isn’t she just the poster model for not having kids? Anyways, I’m looking for a serving bowl for my mother…”
