I work as a seasonal cashier in a specialized gift shop over the holidays. I have just finished ringing up a customer.
Customer: “Thank you very much! Merry Christmas!”
Me: “You’re welcome! Merry Christmas to you, too!”
After the customer leaves, my coworker walks up to me.
Coworker: “Hey, didn’t you say you were an atheist?”
Me: “Um, yeah?”
Coworker: “Oh, I was just wondering if you ever get upset when people tell you ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘God bless you.’”
As I am about to reply, I overhear a customer talking not so quietly to her husband.
Customer: “Dear, did you hear? That girl doesn’t believe in God! How despicable! She shouldn’t even be working here!”
I turn to my coworker, just loud enough so the customer can hear:
Me: “No, I don’t get upset when people have different religious beliefs than me. Just because I’m atheist doesn’t mean I’m not an honest, decent person, or that I can’t accept that others have the right to believe what they want.”
My coworker realizes what I am doing.
Coworker: “Yeah. It’s a real shame other people can’t keep their opinions to themselves. I especially hate it when someone claiming to be Christian doesn’t act very Christlike by judging others.”
The customer, now thoroughly embarrassed, tells her husband to finish his shopping while she waits for him outside. She whispers something else to him before she leaves. A few moments later, the husband walks up with his purchase.
Customer’s Husband: “Hello. My wife wanted me to tell you she was very sorry, and that she was too ashamed to apologize herself.”
Me: “No problem, sir! Please tell her that her apology is accepted, and to have a very Merry Christmas!”
