The Wrong Kind Of In-Vestment

I work retail in a grocery store. My state was a hotbed for white supremacists just a few decades ago, and the whole country is experiencing a resurgence, so when people display racist behavior, we try to come down hard and fast for everyone’s safety.

One morning, I’m working when I see a customer come through the door, wearing something that catches my eye. I love seeing customers’ weird outfits, but as soon as I turn to look, I freeze. The customer is wearing a white robe, exactly the kind of thing I saw photos of in history classes as a child, but those were paired with white hoods.

I speed towards him, mentally freaking out and hoping to prevent him from even SEEING any of my non-White coworkers, because if he’s wearing that robe in public AND showing his face, he has no fear and is probably dangerous, and I would never forgive myself if he hurt someone and I didn’t try to stop him. I stand in front of him so he can’t get further into the store and keep my voice down, so I don’t scare anyone nearby.

Me: *Panicked, but still in customer service mode.* “Sir, PLEASE tell me you are not wearing what I think you’re wearing.”

Customer: “What do you mean?”

Me: “PLEASE tell me you are NOT wearing a KKK robe!”

The customer goes from confused to alarmed in the space of half a second.

Customer: “Oh, no! No, no, no! I’m a friar! I work for the Church! These are just my clergy robes!”

Me: “…Oh! Oh, thank goodness. I saw the white robe and just about had a heart attack.”

I have never gone from calm to panicked back to calm so quickly. And yes, I did apologize to the friar before I went back to my station to stew in embarrassment. But please, dude, if you’re going to wear the robe in public, at least keep one or two of the other vestments so we know you’re not dangerous!