Please be nice: A Public Service Announcement by Katy

So I don't think that a lot of big jerks read Happily Average. Overall, I think we're a nice bunch of folks trying to make ends meet.

So I don't think any of us NEED this story, but I'm going to share it anyway.

Last night, I made a quick Walgreens run. I was headed toward the checkout when I saw someone huff out of the store. The manager pointed to the cashier and said, "Next time, card her... every single time."

I have no idea what happened here. I can make some inferences, but I can't be sure. I didn't see the whole scene.

What I did see was what happened next. The cashier, a girl who looked about sixteen, quietly started to cry. And cry. And cry some more... as she was waiting on people.

Here's what people did:
Lady #1: "Oh, you're not upset, are you? Don't be."
Lady #2: Barely notices the girl is crying as she's asking detailed questions about her package of Misty cigarettes. Then, she finally notices the girl's tears, and says, "You need to get a thicker skin if you're going to work with people."

By the time I got up to the register, she was starting to sob.

Ugh. I know the feeling. I used to be her.

I can (easily) recall three times from my teen years when customers made me cry at part time jobs. I'm sure if I thought hard enough, I could recall a few more. It was always over dumb things too- like lettuce on a sandwich, or the wrong kind of chocolate in an assortment. Sometimes, I think stressed out people seize an opportunity to use vulnerable employees as emotional punching bags. It sucks.

Luckily, there was no one in line behind me, so the young cashier and I had a few moments to talk- it was enough time for her to pull herself together a bit.

Man oh man... the folks behind the counter, the waitress bringing our lunch, the cashier at Target- they're real people with real feelings. Sometimes we all need a little reminder... but since we at Happily Average aren't the type to treat people like crap, let's take the opportunity to go above and beyond with kindness- or at the very least, stick up for the cashier when another customer isn't as gentle.