The Truth Doesn’t Care What You Believe

(I start working in retail when I am 25. I’ve always looked younger than I am, but after about a year of working in the store, I have a conversation with a customer I doubt I’ll ever forget. At the end of the transaction:)

Customer: “You should quit and go back to school.”

Me: “Excuse me?”

Customer: “You should quit this useless job and go back to school so you can do something with your life.”

Me: “Ma’am, I’ve already graduated from high school.”

Customer: “Don’t lie to me; you need to go back and finish so you can do something useful instead of this.”

Me: “Ma’am, I’m 26. I’ve graduated from high school. I’ve done a year and a half at university. I worked in child care for six and a half years. I switched to retail for something different.”

Customer: “There’s no way you’re 26; go back to school and stop making up stories.”

(I happen to have my license in my pocket that day, so I take it out and show her my date of birth.)

Me: “Ma’am, as you can see, I’m 26, nearly 27. I graduated from high school a decade ago this November.”

Customer: “I still don’t believe you.”

Me: “You don’t have to. Have a nice day.”