(I am in a well-known fast food restaurant on my way home.)

Me: “Hi, can I have a three-piece chicken select meal, medium, to go, with a [Soda]?

(I have quite a precise accent and I’m pretty sure I’ve spoken clearly.)

Cashier: “Was that three piece or five piece?”

Me: “Three piece.”

Cashier: “Large?”

Me: “No, thank you.”

Cashier: “What drink?”

Me: “[Soda]…”

Cashier: “Eat in or take away?”

Me: “Take away, please.”

(After patiently repeating myself, I get my food. When I get on the train and open it, I realise he’s given me a five piece meal.)

(At a fair, my company is handing out free samples of our food product. We have to cook some sausage on a fryer and cut it up, then offer it to passersby. A young man in his 20s wearing an impeccable tuxedo approaches.)

Me: “Hello, would you like a free sample?”

Man: *grabs one* “…” *stuffs into mouth, and walks off*

(A little later, I sense someone behind me, so I turn.)

Me: “Hello, would you like—”

(It’s the same man again! Before I can recover, he grabs another one, stuffs it in his mouth, and walks off.)

Coworker: “Yeah, it’s okay if people want more. Just make some more. We have it.”

(So I make some more and a few hours later, the fair is winding down. Only a few passersby remain. And the same man approaches!)

Me: “Hell–”

(I stopped myself and he stared at me mischievously. Then, snake fast, he grabbed the remaining samples and stuffed them in his mouth, and walked off! Later, I learned that he was working for another company, our competition! What a strange guy. All he had to do was ask.)

(I work at a retail store. My coworker has had to take time off due to her grandmother passing away. This happens after she comes back and is still in tears.)

Manager: *concerned* “Hey, why are you crying?”

Coworker: “My grandmother died. She wasn’t even that sick or anything. Her wound from a broken leg turned septic. It wasn’t detected in time. I barely had any time with her before she died! She was supposed to come back for Christmas this year. It’s been five years since she could do that because she lived in Kansas. It’s just so unfair!”

Manager: “Life’s unfair. Get used to it.”

(My father has a rather bad attack of diverticulitis (intestinal problems) and has to go to the hospital. I am worried and make the hour drive to my hometown after work to see him. Since I have the next day off, I stay there, and I make the following phone call more than 24 hours in advance of when I am supposed to work again. I am not in the habit of calling off for frivolous things.)

Me: “Hi, [Manager], it’s [My Name]. My dad had to go to the hospital last night. He’s still there and going to be for a couple of days and since my mom is out of town and I’m an only child, I need to call off for tomorrow so I can stay with my dad and take care of their dog.”

Manager: *pause, then, clearly annoyed* “Well, isn’t there anyone else who can handle it?”

Me: “Well… no. Again, I’m an only child and my mother is out of town.”

Manager: *again, obviously annoyed* “Well, I GUESS if you have to.”

Me: *fuming*

(The kicker? This was the same manager who FREQUENTLY called off or went home for migraines. I understand that migraines can be debilitating, but you’d think a person like that would have some sympathy. Guess not.)

(I wear hearing aids and every so often have to visit audiologists and nurses to have my hearing retested, or new fittings done, or on the odd occasion to have my ears washed out. No matter who I see, the same thing always happens.)

Me: “Hi, I’m here to get my hearing checked. Noises and sounds seem to be quieter than usual recently.”

Audiologist: “Okay, please take a seat and remove your aids and pop them on this tissue on the desk whilst I have a look.”

(I do this and he/she examines my ears with their otoscope, then goes back round the desk and sits down whilst explaining for several minutes what they think is wrong with my hearing, what to do about it, and how long it might take. By now I always end up pointing out that I don’t have my aids in and I can’t hear a word they’re saying. I might be able to lip read, but that doesn’t replace what the aids do for me; I’m always amazed that people in this profession think they can be heard when the patient doesn’t have their hearing aids in.)