Your Monkeys, Your Circus

A mom and her children, probably around five and two years old, had come through my line. The children have toys that I’m sure the mother gave to them to keep them quiet while she was shopping. This is already annoying as the children have dragged the toys along the floor through the store, and the toddler has got drool all over her one.

She took the toys from the children and handed them to me. The children started crying.

Mom: “Sorry, girls, but the cashier lady says you can’t have this.”

I looked right at those little girls and said:

Me: “Actually, it’s up to your mommy if you can have this or not; that’s not my choice. If mommy says no, then she’s the one you should be upset with.”

Mom: “Why did you have to do that?! You’re never gonna see these girls again, and I have to put up with them crying in the car all the way home!”

Me: “Ma’am, instead of being upset with me for not being your bad guy, be grateful I didn’t tell the girls that, actually, I would love for them to have the toys and mommy said she would buy them for you! In fact, she said you could have two!”

Mom: “…”

I think the mom realized I’d gone easier on her than I could have, and shut up.