I think that something most of us would agree that we need in life is good manners. I’m not necessarily saying that we need to hold the door open for everybody that is coming toward it and we don’t need to say thank you until it becomes annoying, but learning how to be mannerly when we treat others is going to take us far in life. Unfortunately, not everybody has those manners and in the following fictional story, you get to hear about a teenager who took things way too far. Let’s just say it didn’t work out for him when all was said and done.
(I’m up working the cash register on a slow day, when a teenage boy comes up. He looks to be about 14. He’s sagging his pants, trying to look tough.) Customer: “Hey, baby.”
Me: “Hi there, sir. How can I help you today?”
Customer: *leans on the counter* “You can get me your number.” (I’m 25, and engaged.)
Me: “Sorry, but that’s not going to happen. Can I help you with anything else?”
Customer: “Why the f*** not, you stupid b****?!”
Me: “One: That would be illegal. Two: I am happily engaged. And three: even if I ignore the first two, it’s against company policy.”
Customer: “You’re a f***ing b****! You should be happy I want a piece of your a**!”
(As the customer continues ranting and raving, a woman appears behind him. She reaches out and taps his shoulder twice.)
Customer: “What the f*** do you want” (He turns around. All the color drains from his face. He manages to squeak out some words.)
Customer: “Hi, mama.” (She smacks him across the face.)
Customer’s Mom: “I did not raise you to be a self-entitled douche-bag! I did not raise you to think you are better than this poor girl!” *she grabs him by the ear, and shoves him against the counter, facing me* “Now, apologize!”
Customer: “But mom!”
Customer’s Mom: “Now!” (He looks close to tears. He mumbles out how sorry he is, and how it wasn’t fair of him to treat me like a piece of meat. His mom, by his ear, pushes him towards the door.)
Customer’s Mom: “Go.”
(He walks out of the store, ready to cry. She turns to me, gives me a huge smile, apologizes again, and even buys me a gift card. Apparently there are some good parents still out there!)
