(We have recently hired a new employee. Right off the bat, we know that she’s not going to work out. She is rude and patronizing to other employees, ignores customers, sighs and rolls her eyes whenever we tell her to do something, flirts with any males, even if they have their girlfriend or wife in front of them, and refuses to serve larger woman. Managers and supervisors have been unable to let her go because she cries until they feel bad for her, and tell her to go back to work. I am a 5’9 Asian female, about 19 years old, and have been working here at the store for over 3 years. I’m working until my crush and his sister who is a mute, comes into the store. The new employee sees my crush first, and before I can stop her, leaves the register to flirt with him.)

New Employee: Hi there, sweetie! Are you looking for something? *towards his sister* I assume that he’s YOUR boyfriend, am I right?

Crush: Ah, nah. I’m here to buy something for my sister. She’s a mute and she asked me to help her pick out some new clothes.

New Employee: *sneering* Oh, what size is your sister, then, huh?

Crush: *visibly uncomfortable* Oh, um, she’s a size 18. She’s been going to some hard times so—

New Employee: Ew! 18? Get out! We don’t serve fatties here, you’re banned from the store, don’t come in here, or else I’m going to call the police on you. Mutes are a freak of nature, and should be killed when born!

(At that point, I drop the clothes I was helping put away with a customer, and run to where the new employee was yelling at the sister for being a “freak” and my crush for being “disgusting.”)

Me: HEY! [New Employee]! STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!

New Employee: What! Don’t yell at me! I’m doing my job! Keeping out all the freaks from this store! She’s a mute! They shouldn’t exist! And him? He’s a disgrace to humanity for being related to a mute!

Me: That’s not how you treat our customers! You should treat them all with respect!

New Employee: Don’t tell me what to do, you freak! Why don’t you just go home, do your homework, and let me do the job, huh?

Me: You don’t treat customers that way! I’m not going home unless you stop treating customers like trash!

(At that point. the new employee slaps me across the face, and pushes me into a rack. Almost immediately, security guards are on the scene, and the customer I was helping is yelling at the new employee)

Customer: THAT’S IT! I HAVE HEARD MORE THAN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT YOU TO BAN YOU FROM THIS STORE, HAVE YOU ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOR HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT, AND TO FIRE YOU. ACTUALLY F*** THAT! YOU’RE FIRED, BANNED, AND WILL BE CHARGED WITH HARASSMENT, ALONG WITH ASSAULT IF [My name] DECIDES TO PRESS CHARGES. GET OUT OF HERE!

Crush: Oh, you’re [My name], right? From [school]?

Me: *blushing* Oh, yeah. You’re one of my friend’s friend’s at school.

Sister: *makes gestures towards my crush*

Crush: *raises eyebrows* My sister says that you have a crush on me. May I have your number?

(One of the classes I take at my local gym is open to members as young as 12, as long as they show they are able to handle it and pay attention, also one of their parents has to be there if they’re under 18.

There’s one girl in particular who has been staring at me the last few times we’ve both been in class. I’m a fairly average looking female in my mid-20’s, so I couldn’t imagine what about me was holding her attention. Finally, one night she comes up to me before class:)

12 year-old: So, like, are you, like, 18 or something?

Me: Ha! No, but you’re sweet to think so. I’m 27.

12 year-old: *eyes bugged out* No way! You totally look like you’re in high school!

Me: Nope, I’ll be 28 this winter.

12 year-old: But you look so young!

Me: I get that a lot.

(For the rest of the class, anytime she passed by me she’d make some comment about how I look like I’m in high school. It was flattering, if a bit repetitive.)

I am having lunch at the food court when two people sit near me. They are close enough I can hear their conversation.

Person 1 – I’m gay

Person 2 – Okay ( continues eating as if nothing has happened)

(Person 1 is silent and looks a little out of sorts, Person 2 see their friends distress)

Person 2 – You weren’t expecting that response were you?

Person 1 – No, and here I planned and worried for months.

(They began talking about something else as I was leaving, I felt sad and happy for person 1, to have such a friend that accepted them as they were regardless_

I work with primary 7 kids who are about 10/11 years old. We are looking at photographs of people celebrating Eid, and are trying to guess what might be happening in the pictures.

Me: so does anyone know what they might be celebrating?

Child: is it Harambe?

(I’m a manager at my store, but as we’re a little short handed, today I am acting as a cashier. It’s part of the cashier’s job to greet everyone who comes into the store. Today, a customer wanders in. It’s a slow enough day that he’s the only person in the store.)

Me, loudly enough for my voice to carry: Hello! Welcome to [store]!

(The customer looks around the store, ignoring me, and then walks off, presumably because he knows what he’s looking for. My coworker passes him.)

Coworker: Hey, how’s it goin’, man?

(My coworker is ignored, and he tries again.)

Coworker: Err, is there anything I can help you find?

(The customer ignores my coworker, too. The coworker and I exchange glances, shrug, and go back to our work. Moments later, the customer comes marching up to my till. He throws an empty ink cartridge down on the counter.)

Customer: Aren’t there any SALES PEOPLE working here!? I need SOMEONE to show me where stuff is, because I want to BUY things! You know, make your store money!?

Coworker, sighing: Right this way, sir…