(I work night shifts and, often about 5 min before closing, will stand at the door to help explain our closing times and how long people have for alcohol. This night, there’s a couple people outside who see me and start talking. Two are friends waiting on another, the third is some random stranger to us all. It should also be noted that night crew generally has a dress down policy.)
Friend 1: “Oh, are you guys closing already?”
Me: “Yeah, we close in less than five minutes, I’m just watching the door.”
Friend 1: “Our friends are still in there.”
(Recalling these people as they were a group of 4 getting cigarettes)
Me: “I know, don’t worry, we’re not planning on locking everyone in there.”
(We share a laugh at my admittedly lame joke)
Stranger: “Ah, don’t worry about it, we’re all friends here!” He moves close to me to see pass the doors, I step aside to let him look closer. “I see some [racial slur] in there, want me to watch them for you?” (He is of the same race, though I am not)
Me: “No, they’re fine. I’m not worried.”
(The other customers come out, the friends leave and I’m now only holding the door open to let the last two customers out as we’re not otherwise closed. A car pulls up.)
Stranger: “Someone’s coming here. You’re closed now, right? You want me to tell them off?”
Me: “No, I can let them know. It’s my job. No worries.”
Stranger: “I got your back!”
New person: (gets out of his car) “You guys closed?”
Me: “Yeah, sorry, we closed at 2am” (it’s now a minute past)
Stranger: “Nah, you can ignore her. Just go on pass! They’re not closed.”
Me: “Um, no we are. Sorry.”
Stranger: “She doesn’t work here, she doesn’t know!”
(Another person has walked up and also gets tangled in the problem but he walks off rather quickly after I tell him we’re closed. The person in the car, however, is reasonably confused.)
New Person: (to me) “You work here?”
Me: “Yes.”
New Person: “How come you’re not in uniform?”
Me: “Because we have a dress down policy for night crew.”
New Person: “You’re really closed?”
Me: “Yes, we closed about a minute ago.”
Stranger: “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
New Person: “Who is your manager?”
Me: “Store manager or manager on site?”
New Person: “Store.”
Me: “[Manager]”
New Person: “Okay.” (He gets into his car and drives off)
Stranger: (gets close to me and starts trying to whisper to me) “You see… you see, I can handle these–”
Me: (interrupting) “Sir, could you please step away from me. I don’t mind talking, but I don’t want you standing that close to me. Sorry.”
Stranger: (steps back and starts walking off in a mocking tone) “I don’t want some black guy standing next to me.”
