I sell tickets for an Orlando theme park complex. A woman with two teenage-looking kids comes to my window. I barely get a chance to start my opening pleasantries when she interrupts.

Tourist: *Already grouchy* “I want three tickets for one park.”

Me: “I can absolutely do that. Was there anything specific you guys were hoping to see today?”

Tourist: *Angrier* “Just this park.”

Me: “Okay, so just to make sure we’re on the same page, [Second Park] has [rides]. We’re okay with skipping all of that today and staying just at [First Park], is that right?”

Tourist: “YES! We’re going to [Second Park] tomorrow!”

Me: “Oh, do you have your tickets for tomorrow already?”

The tourist is not quite yelling but very angry at this point.

Tourist: “No, we’ll get them tomorrow!”

Me: “Actually, it would be cheaper to—”

Tourist: “NO! Just shut up and do what I tell you!”

Me: “Oookay, then…”

I don’t even try to hide the sarcastically sweet “perky customer service voice” as I did exactly that. Lady, I hope you’re reading this. The price of three two-day tickets is over $150 less than the price of six one-day tickets. And on top of that, we had a “buy two days, get three days free” promotion that I was going to offer… but aren’t you glad I just shut up and did what you told me to?

While in college, my boyfriend undergoes a bone biopsy and will need to recover at home for a few days. Not having a car of my own, I borrow his so I can visit him until he can return to class. What none of us realize is that his car has been slowly leaking brake fluid and today is the day that breaks the camel’s back.

After leaving his house the first day he’s home, I’m driving down the middle lane of a three-lane highway and start to approach a red light. I put my foot on the brake and while the car slows, it refuses to stop. I only have about fifty feet before I will hit a car stopped in front of me at the light. I’m completely panicked, slamming the brake with both feet, trying desperately to stop the car. Being in the middle lane, I can’t pull over and the only other car I’ve ever driven had a pedal emergency brake. This car has a hand e-brake which I don’t know exists at the time.

With only about fifteen feet to go, the car has coasted to about ten or fifteen mph but I know I’m still going to hit the car in front of me.

In a last-ditch effort, I throw the car into park and the car emits a horrendous noise, as you would expect, but I still rear-end the car stopped in front of me, a small SUV. I don’t hit him hard enough to deploy the airbag but hard enough to bring me to an abrupt halt. 

As I was able to see this accident coming, combined with the fear of driving down the highway without brakes, adrenaline has been pouring into my system. I’ve now caused an accident in a car that isn’t mine and that I’m not registered to drive, and I have an out-of-state driver’s license. In our college town, police are notoriously unforgiving of out-of-state college drivers and I’m convinced I’m in loads of trouble. I’m having an absolute, sobbing meltdown in the driver’s seat.

The driver from the car in front of me gets out, takes a brief look at the damage to our cars, and approaches my window. I roll it down and immediately begin rapid-fire apologizing while sobbing. 

Me: “I’m so sorry! My brakes went out and I couldn’t stop and I didn’t mean to hit you and I hope you’re okay and I’m so sorry and I couldn’t stop and I didn’t know what to do and I couldn’t stop and—”

Other Driver: *Very concerned* “Are you okay?”

Me: “I didn’t mean to hit you, but I couldn’t stop and I was so scared and I’m so sorry and my brakes wouldn’t work—”

Other Driver: *Still patient and concerned* “Are you okay?”

Me: “I’m really sorry and—”

Other Driver: *In a very casual tone* “I think you broke a headlight.”

Me: “It’s my boyfriend’s car and he just got out of surgery and the brakes wouldn’t work—”

Other Driver: *Somewhat forcefully* “STOP.”

I fall silent.

Other Driver: *Very calmly* “Are you okay?”

Me: “I’m not hurt.”

At this point, a police officer has arrived and starts to tell me I need to move my car. I’m completely flummoxed because the brakes don’t work and I try telling him this. He keeps insisting I move the car because we’re holding up traffic. The other driver chimes in that I can probably move the car no problem, but if the officer wants me to stop at some point, we’re going to have an issue.

In the midst of all of this, I’ve managed to call my boyfriend who, even though he’s recovering from a very painful procedure, manages to get a ride to the accident scene which is only about ten minutes from his house. He explains that the car has a hand brake and the friend who drove him moves the car to a nearby gas station. The other driver follows us all so we can continue talking to the officer.

At this point, the officer has never asked me for my license, proof of insurance, or anything. He addresses the other driver.

Officer: “Do you want to file an accident report or have us pursue this any farther?”

Other Driver: “Nah. My car is fine. I do more damage than that putting my bike in the trunk. And it’s not like it was really her fault. I’m okay calling it a day if you are.”

Officer: “Sounds good. Have a good day, everyone.”

I never got that other driver’s name but I will always be grateful for how kind and understanding he was. He could have made my day so much worse and it would have been totally justified. Thank you, driver, wherever you are!

I am visiting a popular theme park in Florida with my family. We are all really thrilled to be there, and all the employees and cast members have been phenomenal to us. I am next in a long line for some food when the customer ordering just ahead of me starts complaining and asks to see a manager.

Customer: *Angrily, to the manager* “Why is it taking so long? We’re hungry over here!” 

Manager: “Our staff is doing their best to make your meal as magical as possible, sir. I’m sure your meals will be out shortly.” 

I finish my order as they talk, and I stand next to [Customer] as we both wait for our food. I wave over an employee and ask her to get the manager for me. I speak to the manager, loudly so that [Customer] can hear it.

Me: “I just wanted to say thank you; your staff is doing a great job! And the line is moving faster than I expected since it’s so busy. You’re all making our visit magical.”

[Customer] glared at me, but I refused to even look over. The manager’s smile was huge, and I know a few other employees overheard, as well. Hope it made up for the needlessly grumpy guy.

I work at a hotel in a theme park and we’re are almost booked solid for the entire year. A guest comes back from the parks wet and steaming mad.

Me: “Hello! I see you encountered Florida’s unpredictable weather today.”

Guest: “Are you f****** kidding me?”

Me: “I’m sorry?”

Guest: “We paid over ten grand to come here this year and it has rained every g**-d***ed day!”

Me: “Well, ma’am, Florida is known for very unpredictable weather. Shall I suggest carrying a rain poncho or an umbrella?”

Guest: “That doesn’t f****** help me now, now does it? [Park] is not supposed to have rain! They have a dome they fly over on rainy days! I know this! I’m going to sue them for everything that f****** mouse owns!”

Me: “Ma’am, there is no such thing as a [Park] dome. That is just not possible. Also, I’m going to have to ask you to please refrain from shouting and cursing while in the hotel lobby.”

Guest: “F*** you! And f*** all your [Park] s***! This place should sink into the ground and disappear. I wouldn’t be the least bit unhappy if someone flew a plane into that castle!”

Me: “Ma’am, I need you to either go to your room or please exit my lobby with that kind of language.”

Guest: “Fine! I’ll just go contact the terrorists and send them over here, right after I check out in ten minutes!”

Thirty more minutes passed, and she came down with her luggage, throwing the keys on the desk and walking out the door. Another guest alerted me that she was outside telling guests that the terrorists were running the hotel and that they planned to launch planes into [Park]. We called the police and they came to escort her to jail for a terrorist threat.

I work as a lifeguard at a popular waterpark. I’m stationed just about forty feet away from the entrance to the lazy river. A boy runs and jumps in next to my stand, breaking several rules at once.

Me: “Hey! Do not ever jump into this river again! Use the entrance like everyone else!”

Kid: “I know! I’m sorry! Jesus!”

I let him float on. Some people just make that mistake even though it’s common knowledge. About three minutes later, I see a lifeguard floating down past me with the kid in tow.

Me: “What happened? You need help?”

Lifeguard: “No. Kid climbed out next to my stand and jumped in. Hit his arm on the island.”

Me: “He jumped in at my stand, too, and I told him not to break any more rules.”

Boy: “F*** you! He’s lying!”

Lifeguard: “We don’t really lie to each other. I’m getting security and you can explain it to them.”

I found out later that the kid had been breaking major rules all day and running off before anyone could get him, and he even got a little kid hurt as a result. Security escorted him and his family out of the park and gave them all a lifetime ban.