I guess this story makes me potentially guilty of fraud, but posting it here might assuage my enormous guilt slightly.
Although I usually walk downhill to go shopping, when returning I take the bus for a couple of stops to avoid climbing the steepest part of the hill. One day I board the bus on my usual route when this happens.
Driver (not looking me in the face): Machine’s not scanning passes today. Here. (Hands me a ticket.)
Me: Um, OK.
Realising that the driver has made an error, but not wishing to miss the opportunity for a free ticket, I take my seat. When I leave I keep my head down and mumble “Thanks” to the driver.
Driver: Have a nice evening, Mr [Not My Name].
I don’t know who Mr [Not My Name] is, but I’m grateful to him and his short-sighted driver for the free ride!

Overheard as I was lingering at the gate to my store:

Guy #1: “I don’t think the grocery store is hiring.”
Guy #2: “Go punch a bag boy in the face. Then they’ll have an opening.”

I’m fairly confident Guy #2 was joking, but considering some of the other stories on this site, I do worry a little when I look back on it.

Remember this story? https://notalwaysright.com/this-cousin-deserves-to-be-boxed/120072/ I have a follow-up.

My grandmother was forced to move and we all helped out. Well, we tried, as my cousin [Cousin 1] insisted on doing it all alone. It resulted into many things disappearing, including special moving boxes my dad was allowed to borrow from work. Thanks to my cousin, the boxes vanished and my dad had to tell his boss. His boss understood things and noted the boxes as lost – not charging my dad anything, or even reprimanding him.

The move is done and now my grandmother has decided to split her money, like an inheritage. Tax-wise, it’s better she gives it now than after she passes. She says she wants to split things evenly; everyone gets the same amount. When the money appears on the bank accounts, dad is confused.

Dad: Mother, you had [amount], right?

Grandmother: Yes, I had.

Dad: If we all got the same, and I add it all up, I am missing [amount]. Did you keep that?

Note: my dad couldn’t care less about the money. He just has a suspiscion.

Grandmother: No, it is all gone now.

Dad: Really…?

Grandmother: [Cousin 2] helped me calculate everything, so I’m sure it’s right.

The topic changes, but it comes to [Cousin 1]. My dad finds out about a huge debt he has. It doesn’t surprise my dad one bit, considering how my cousin deals with money.

Grandmother: And did you hear it? [Cousin 1] saved up so much, he could easily pay off [big amount] at once!

Dad: He paid off that much?!

Grandmother: Yes, he’s finally doing better!

Dad falls silent for a moment, and then: You paid it for him, didn’t you?

Grandmother: No, no, he saved up!

Dad: You and I both know [cousin 1] doesn’t even know what ‘saving up’ means. Considering the sum he received and the missing money… You gave him the missing money! *My grandmother starts stammering* Look, you know I don’t care about the money, it’s yours! But you said you’d split it evenly and you didn’t!

Grandmother: But… he’s having such a hard time!

Dad: Did you ever bother to ask MY children how they are doing?

Grandmother: But, but….

Dad: You know [my dad’s firstborn] struggles a lot financially and you know [my dad’s second born] is forced to give up their dream. The only difference between them and [both cousins] is that they don’t wish to burden you with their struggles! Just like I never tried to burden you. But anyone who comes to you with a sob-story gets a wad of cash from you!

My dad gets up and walks to the door.

Dad: I told you: I don’t care about the money, but don’t short-change my children. I’m off. I can’t believe I can’t even trust my own mother to be honest to me.

The next day, my dad is called by [Cousin 2], who admits both cousins received more money because grandmother wanted to help them with their struggles.

Dad: I don’t care you two got more – it’s her money and her to decide. The least she could’ve done, is being honest about it. And we both know [cousin 1] isn’t honest, especially when it comes to money. But all my mother sees is her poor grandchild with a huge debt he caused himself. I can just hope she will one realise she doesn’t have 2 grandchildren, but 4.

The next week, my dad visited his mother again. There was no more talk about the money. Grandma also probably knows what happenes to the missing items, but refuses to acknoledge her ‘dear [cousin 1]’ could have done that on purpose.

(I use a wheelchair when shopping as I am unable to walk long distances, and I have found that people treat me differently while in it, assuming I am mentally as well as physically disabled. I am shopping while visiting family. The cashier turns to serve me and her demeanour completely changes from the previous customer to me.)
Cashier, with a wide smile, as if to a young child: “Well, hello sweetheart! That will be £2, please!”
Me: “Sure, here you go.”
(Her eyes bug out and she says nothing for the rest of the transaction. I leave the shop with my aunt pushing my chair.)
Aunt: “What was that?? She sounded like she was talking to a puppy!”
Me: “I’m glad you noticed it too, I thought it was just me!”
(She did nothing wrong and seemed like a lovely person, but it certainly made for an odd encounter. The only conclusion we could come to is that she had seen me in my chair with my baby-face and assumed I was a mentally disabled child. I’m a 23 year old woman!)

I am working as head of costume at a pantomime in a mid sized theatre. We have barely finished the show and I have various pieces of costume flung over my shoulder as I fold it. Suddenly a woman comes and knocks loudly on the door that leads from front of house to backstage. She has already come through a door which says ‘staff only’ to reach this one, and is in the way of our junior ensemble trying to get to their dressing room. This interaction follows:

Woman: ‘how can I buy one of those light up wands?’ (We sell light up merchandise for kids during the show)

Me, folding costume: ‘I’m sure one of the front of house staff can help you with that’

Woman: ‘there’s no one there! And I promised my son!’

Me: ‘They are in the auditorium at the moment. I can’t sell you one because I’m not front of house, I’m sure they’ll be out soon!’

Woman: ‘will you send one out to me?’

Me, looking at my pile of costumes and a line of waiting children: ‘I’m sure one of the staff will be out soon.’

Thankfully she left after that, but i know full well that what she wanted was for me to stop doing my job to sell her a wand, which I couldn’t have done anyway, or stop to fetch her another member of staff. She renewed my hatred of working with the general public.