(This happens right after my aunt had died unexpectedly at age 62. I have taken the week off to be with my family.)

Manager: “Hey, [my name], can you cover my shift tomorrow night?”

Me: “No, I’m off the rest of the week. Remember?”

Manager: “Yeah, I know, but I really need you to come in tomorrow night and cover the store.”

Me: “I can’t. Tomorrow is my aunt’s funeral.”

Manager: “Yeah, I know, but that’s in the morning, isn’t it?”

Me: “Yes, but I really don’t think I’ll be in any shape to work after my aunt’s funeral.”

Manager: “Well look, I have a date tomorrow night with this really hot guy, but I’m supposed to be here to cover the store and process shipment and no one else can cover, so I really need you to come in from 4 until close. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t an emergency ’cause no one else can come in!”

Me: “Wait, you want me to come in, process the entire shipment, and cover the store by myself after my aunt’s funeral so you can go on a date?!”

Manager: “Yeah, what’s the big deal? They’ll have buried her by then anyway, so it’s not like you’ll miss anything.”

Me: “Seriously?! Okay, tell you what: I’ll come in tomorrow, but only to turn in my keys and name tag. Good luck on your date.”

(I ended up getting a work study job through school that paid much better and even helped me earned credit towards my major. My manager was fired a few months after I quit for drinking in the store and sexually harassing an employee.)

(A male customer cuts in line at the check-out during Black Friday.)

Customer: “B****! Get off your lazy a** and bag my items!”

Me: “Excuse me?”

Customer: “You heard me! Or didn’t you? All you woman are as useless as—”

Next Customer: “Pardon my interruption, but you do realize you wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for your mother… A WOMAN? You call that useless?”

(The customer leaves quickly, without eye contact.)

Me: “There’s a boy in the noodle aisle purposely throwing everything on the floor. He’s not responding to anyone.”

Employee: “Ugh. Not again. All we can do is pick up after him and put things back.”

Me: “Why can’t someone get his parents and make him stop?”

Employee: “He’s the manager’s kid…”

(It is my first day off in about a week and I am spending it with my best friend, supporting her at her grandmother’s funeral. At 7 am, I get a call from one of the managers.)

Manager: “Hey, can you come into work today? [Coworker] called in.”

Me: “Sorry, I can’t. I’m going to a funeral today.”

Manager: “Oh. What time?”

Me: “Ten. I’m not sure how long it’s going to be, but I really don’t think I’ll be able to come in.”

Manager: “Well… I mean… Could you come in from ten to two and then go to the funeral?”

Me: “…No. The service starts at ten. I can’t really miss this.”

Manager: “What about ten-thirty to two?”

Me: “I really can’t make it.”

Manager: “How about you think about it and call us back at ten?”

Me: “I’m not going to call you back. I’m not going to think about this. I really can’t come into work today.”

Manager: “Well, can you have them reschedule it?”

Me: “The funeral?”

Manager: “Yeah.”

Me: “No. I’m going back to sleep.”

(I went back to sleep and proceeded to ignore the next four calls from my work. The next day, my direct manager comes to me…)

Direct Manager: “So, why couldn’t you make it in yesterday?”

(Thankfully, when I explained the situation, she realized how silly the other manager was, laughed and walked away.)

(I work in a cosmetics store. My area is extremely busy, with everybody wanting my help at the same time. A rather large family come in, wanting to look at lipsticks. I show them the area, and excuse myself to help Customer #1, who has been waiting patiently.)

Me: “Okay, so this one reduces wrinkles, this one has Vitamin E, and this one has B.”

Customer #1: “Oh, okay, I used this one at home. I want a change, so which would you suggest?”

Me: “Well yo—”

(Just then, Customer #2, a man in the large family, snaps his fingers at me, interrupting me.)

Customer #2: “Excuse me.”

Me: “Give me one second, and I’ll be right with you, sir.”

(Customer# 2 than snaps his fingers at me AGAIN. Customer# 1 looks visibly annoyed, and her face goes white.)

Me: “Sir, that is extremely rude. Please do not snap your fingers at me; I will be right with you as soon as I am finished.”

(Customer# 2 goes to open his mouth, when Customer# 1 snaps.)

Customer #1: “Don’t you even start with her! How dare you treat her like that! Can’t you see she’s working as hard as she can, with a big smile on her face? She’s so sweet, and she’s been nothing but nice to everybody, and trying to help everybody at once! So shut your mouth and wait!”

(Customer#2 is aghast; his jaw is hanging open. He grabs his family, and leaves with his tail tucked between his legs. I give Customer #1 a hug. She made my day!)