My mom and I are going to the movies. We always go to the same theater, around the same time, because we know the matinee times. Unbeknownst to us, the theater was recently bought out. The new owner limited the matinee times and changed ticket prices, as well as now charging tax for concessions. It’s a slow day, so at the moment you purchase tickets from concessions.
Cashier: “Hi, what can I get you guys?”
Mom: “Two for [Movie]”
Cashier: “Two adults for [Movie]. That’ll be… [price].”
Mom: “What do you mean?”
Cashier: “I’m sorry?”
Mom: “We get the matinee price. This is matinee time.”
Cashier: “I’m sorry, ma’am, we recently changed management, and they changed the—”
Mom: “Are you serious?”
Cashier: “I’m sorry; ma’am, but I don’t have any control—”
Mom: “This is ridiculous!”
Me: “Mom, it’s not her fault! If it’s such a big deal, I’ll pay!”
Mom: “No, no, we said we were going to see [Movie] and we’re going to see it. Whatever, here’s the money. We’re not getting any popcorn.”
(Mom pays the red-faced cashier and we get our tickets and go to our theater. When we sit down I look at my mom. Note that I’m a cashier at a fast food restaurant.)
Me: “I can’t believe you talked to her like that.”
Mom: “What do you mean?”
Me: “It’s not her fault that they changed anything and you yelled at her! If someone talked to me like that at work I would hate them! I guarantee that right now she’s rolling her eyes with her co-workers at the mean customer she just had.”
Mom: “I didn’t yell at her…”
Me: “Yeah, you did. You were incredibly rude. And I’m going back and getting myself a soda. If you hadn’t been so rude to her, I was going to offer to buy your snacks.”
(I grab my purse and storm out of the theater, feeling pretty vexed by my mother, who I usually view as one of the most awesome people in the world. I head back to concessions and to the same girl.)
Me: “Can I get a medium Dr. Pepper?”
Cashier: “No problem.”
Me: “And I’m really sorry for the way that my mom acted…”
Cashier: “It’s fine. I’ve been getting that a lot lately. Your total is [price that’s different from what I’m used to].”
Me: “Oh, man, they’re charging tax now, too? What jerks! People must be yelling at you all the time.”
(The cashier shrugs and takes my money, and I take my soda.)
Me: “Once again, I’m really, really sorry for my mother.”
Cashier: “Really, it’s fine. Enjoy your movie!”
Me: “Have a good day!”
(I head back to my theater and sit down next to my mom.)
Me: “I apologized to the girl for how you acted.”
Mom: “Whatever…”
(As I shove my receipt into my purse I notice something odd and smile.)
Me: “She must have appreciated it; she only charged me for a small soda.”
(My mom and I were pretty passive-aggressive at each other for the rest of the day, but she ended up apologizing. I hope that I made that cashier’s day better.)