(I work in a movie theatre. A customer approaches the kiosk.)

Me: “Hello. Can I get you anything?”

Customer: “A large popcorn, please.” *as I’m filling a box* “It’s very pretty in here. Is it always like this?”

Me: “Oh, no. Two of our managers just got engaged to each other, and seeing as it’s Pride Month, we decided to celebrate a little.”

Customer: “Oh!” *looks around* “So, this is what it’s like to be inside the Gay Agenda. It’s very colourful.”

(He then left the kiosk and walked into his screening, while I stood there shouting, asking if he still wanted his popcorn.)

This story is part of the Pride Month 2023 roundup!

Read the next Pride Month 2023 roundup story!

Read the Pride Month 2023 roundup!

I am a customer in this story. My work is unexpectedly closed on a Wednesday due to a power outage, so I decide to go see a movie by myself. I am an adult female in my 20s, but I really enjoy animated movies, so I buy a ticket for the most recent Pixar film.

It is a weekday at noon, so the theater is not very crowded, and when I go to sit down I am the only one there. I take a seat in the center row, and a few minutes later a woman and two kids around age eight to ten come in. One of the kids runs up to the row I am in and sits down, leaving one seat between me and him. I don’t think anything of it because a lot of people like to sit in the center row.

But then, the woman tells him to move because I have someone else coming to sit next to me and he should leave some space. I politely tell her that, no, I am actually here alone, so it’s fine. She goes completely crazy, yelling that it is weird for an adult to be coming alone to see a kids’ movie and that I am some kind of pervert because I really want her kid to sit near me. She drags her kids out of the theater and comes back a few minutes later with a manager, still screaming I am trying to hurt her kids. After I, the employee, and even her kids try to explain to her that I wasn’t doing anything wrong, she is still yelling, so I just decide to leave because I don’t want to ruin the movie for her kids. Luckily, the theater gives me a free ticket for later that night and free popcorn, so I come back with my boyfriend.

FYI, some people like to go see movies alone when they have a day off; that doesn’t mean they are creepy perverts.

(I work at a movie theater that has annual popcorn buckets. You buy the bucket for $25 dollars at the beginning of the year and fill it up for $5 each time you come back. We also sell lids for these buckets separately for $1.50. Yes, I know that’s ridiculous. This happens to be the cheapest thing on our menu, and this is what happens weekly.)

Customer: “I want a bucket lid.”

(I grab a lid and hand it to them.)

Customer: “No, I want the popcorn that comes with the bucket lid.”

(I go to see “The Kid Who Would Be King” at the movie theater. It is during the day, and I am in seat D6 with it empty all the way to the aisle on one side of me. This is important. We get to where it’s about fifteen minutes to the end of the movie, and this dad comes in holding a baby and tickets to the next showing.)

Dad: “We’re in D4, 5, 6, and 7.”

(He is looking at me like he fully expects me to apologize and move.)

Me: “Well, maybe you are, but I’m still using one of those!”

(He turned and left the theater. I mean, if sitting down right then was that important to him, he could have sat in one of the empty seats with no problem, but I’m not moving before the movie has even ended to make room for people attending the next show.)

(I am working concessions at a movie theater. I already had a bad feeling this customer when I saw her scream at her kids while waiting in line. I know kids can be rough, so I am giving her the benefit of the doubt. Her order is pretty big, but it goes by pretty smoothly until I hand her the first large, Wild Cherry Icee. The bottom of the plastic cup has popped out a bit, but it can still stand up on its own, and it’s going to be sitting in a cup holder, anyway. It usually goes unnoticed, but not this time…)

Customer: “This cup is defective! I want another one.”

(I think she is being a little picky, but nonetheless, I smile and go to get her another cup. I take the lid off and begin pouring the Icee into a new cup, but then…)

Customer: “Uh-uh, you can’t do that! You’ve got to start all over!”

(Once again, I think she’s being incredibly picky, but I just keep smiling, and begin to make her a new Icee, but she’s still unhappy…)

Customer: “Why is this taking so long? Where’s my popcorn? You haven’t started anything else yet!”

(Now, I’m starting to get annoyed, but I’m still polite to her, and tell her that I’ll have the rest of her order ready shortly. Our manager is helping run for us, and I tell him to get some of her items, but she complains to him that I’m taking too long with her Icee. He reminds her that I’m doing everything she’s asking me, but she keeps on complaining to him. I finally finish with her Icees, but the top to one of them is dripping a bit. This happens all the time, and I do what I usually do: I grab a napkin and wipe it off. Nonetheless, she’s still unhappy…)

Customer: “What kind of place are y’all operating here? This is ridiculous. I’m calling corporate!”