This Transaction Died

The retail location where I work does a Mother’s Day gift basket giveaway every year. All you have to do to enter is fill out a small slip of paper with your name and phone number on it. We are told to offer this to all customers and show off the products that are part of the gift basket.

I am restocking shelving attached to the side of the register while my coworker rings up an older man. He has said nothing the entire transaction, despite my coworker’s efforts.

Coworker: “Would you like to enter our raffle for our Mother’s Day gift basket?”

Customer: “My mother is dead.”

Coworker: “Oh… I’m sorry. Well, you could always enter for your wife—”

Customer: “My wife is dead.”

Coworker: *Very flustered but still trying* “Oh… I’m so sorry… You could always gift it to a sibling or a daughter or—”

Customer: “No. Everyone’s dead. They’re all dead.”

He dropped exact change on the counter, grabbed his things, and walked out.