The Line Is Busy

I’m a cashier at the checkout. My current customer is on the phone, which I don’t mind too much normally as long as they can keep up with the transaction, but it’s obvious this customer has completely zoned out.

Me: “Are you paying by cash or card, ma’am?”

Customer: *On the phone.* “What did [Name] say about [Other Name]?”

Me: “Ma’am, cash or card?”

Customer: *On the phone.* “What?! How does that make sense! I would have said no!”

Me: “Ma’am—”

Customer: *To me.* “Hold on a minute! This call is important!”

Me: “Oh, gee! In that case, you should probably give it your full attention, huh? I’ll serve you when you’re done.”

I cancel her transaction and sweep all her items (about fifteen or so) back into her basket and lean over to address the customer behind her.

Me: “Next customer, please!”

The look on her face when she realized what was happening was priceless. She tried to shout, saying that she was busy and I needed to rescan her items, but the next customer spoke over her:

Next Customer: “You had your chance, and you chose your call instead! You don’t have time to wait for me? Well, I don’t have time to wait for you to hold us up with your call, so go take it over there and let me buy my lemons!”

 It was appropriate that the next customer was buying lemons, because my original customer looked like she was sucking on one the entire time she was standing to the side taking her ‘important’ call.