And Speaking Of People Sucking
The Scene: Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club at the booze-emporium-from-hell that temporarily employs me.
The Person: An obnoxious individual who arrives at the store entrance well before opening time, plunks his bushel basket full of spent beer bottles in the doorway, and proceeds to tap on his watch and tell my co-worker that he should be opening the store early, given the high-paying job that he has. My co-worker and I wisely ignore him. We know his kind: They arrive early with empties and large chips on their shoulders, spoiling for a fight.
I disregard the crowd that has lined up outside the door five minutes before opening, as I quickly count my till and prepare for the morning rush. As I approach the doors, I ask the individual to back up so that the door won’t hit me on his way in. Instead, he comes forward.
As he enters, I clarify that I was asking him to back up so that I wouldn’t be hit by the door as the crowds stormed their way in. He tells me that I should put in a compensation claim if that happens. He’s completely missed my point. I give up.
As the crowd of recyclers is dealt with and this utterly nasty individual continues to harass my co-worker, I hear someone whistling a happy tune. I know what the tune is. I don’t know who the whistler is. I wonder if it’s aimed at the customers, or aimed at us. If I get my hands on the person, I might well hurt them.
The obnoxious first customer leaves, the whistler appears. It’s my old boss - the best boss I’ve ever had. He’s retired now, and gleefully observing the scene.
He’s whistling “If I Only Had A Brain” from The Wizard Of Oz.
I want to hug him.
