Watch Out For The Crazy Gecko Tote Lady

(As a pet care specialist at a nationwide pet store chain, my duties include not only caring for animals on the sales floor, but also rotating “deep cleans” of each pet care sub-department during the week. On this day, I am in the midst of reptile habitat maintenance — glass aquarium removed from the end cap, working with a cart of cleaning supplies and freshly washed decor and dishes, and fresh substrate — and am wearing a brightly-colored uniform shirt and a radio, with a name tag. An older fellow walks in, fetches a cart, and pauses his walk down the main aisle when he reaches where I am standing with a gecko in a tote and my gloved hands smoothing coconut soil into its home.)

Customer: “Excuse me. Do you work here?”