Keeping My Cool

My recent stint as "gift shop cashier" at a national curling competition as been the ultimate test of my patience, and my ability to stop myself from loosing my cool with the general population. In the typical work day, I will spend most of my time packaging up ridiculously overpriced curling memorabilia for a group of society which is apparently immune to the economic downturn. I also spend a disturbing amount of time helping middle aged women pick out sweaters and coats, and coming up with non-offensive ways to discourage them from buying a medium when they really need to invest in a large. "Its really all about upper-body mobility" I often find myself explaining, "don't let the L scare you." Probably my most memorable moment to date, was the verbal thrashing I received from one of my fellow co-workers, who I have secretly named "Indigenous Rita McNeil." Upon taking over my till at the beginning of her shift, and the end of mine, she began to rage as I neglected to organize the three most recent transaction slips. "I don't clean up no-ones messes cept for ma'own" she sneered with surprising volume, as she starting tossing everything out of the till onto the counter, which included the previously organized piles I had set out. I slowly began sorting through the mess she created whilst staring at her with amazement. "Eaaasy Rita" I wanted to say, in a southing tone. "Don't you start to think that I come in here just to tidy up these messes you make." As the countless other employees and customers gathered to view this little production play out, and told her to relax, she snapped back "Im an honest woman, and I tell it how things are! I got to where I am today because of my honesty.. and the federal government thinks so too." Rita then rumbled into a long drawn out story about how she has paid her debts back to the government with honesty, and now the Canadian Government has given her clearance to enter any country in the World she wants to, without requiring any sort of documentation. At this point I had completed my tidying of the recipts and I slowly backed out of the situation, knowing what would happen if I said what I was thinking: "don't you need documentation to prove that you don't need any documentation?" Once the manager realized that customers were fleeing the scene and dispersing back into pedestrian traffic, she interjected and talked IRM down from her fleeting rage.

On tomorrow's agenda, I intend to propose a road trip to the United States border for a trial run of Rita's claim, and to further pick at the sure-lie until another more physical brawl ensues. I of course will push the blame onto the other "winter-carnies" I work with. Todays POTD represents what I was thinking about Rita as this event was occuring.



B