Some days, working with the general public is worse than others. Bad days include multiple interactions a bit like this:
Him: Someone's dropped an egg!
Me: Oh, thanks for letting me know, I'll go and clear it up after this transaction.
Him: It's exciting, huh, like...brightens up the day…!
His eyes dart around and I see his brain whirl as he see the changes in my expression, I see him look all over and through me as I glare back.
Him: …Y'know…problem solving..
He
fucking
dares!!
Not today, no, I won't take it. I'm confident enough to say:
Oh, are you re-writing my CV?!
Scorn, with a smatter of disgust.
I am glad for the timing. A month or so later, I am job hunting, and so am in no mood to be as bolshy.
He is the guy I refer to as 'Creepy Egg Guy'.
The problem is, when I try to describe him to my other colleagues, no one can quite pin his description down. There are so many creepy guys that frequent this workplace that they are sometimes hard to distinguish. Many are also egg guys, protein guys - ‘guy’ guys. Some are obviously triggering and creepy to all. Some we know to shield certain colleagues from, but there are others who may come across as perfectly respectful and pleasant, friendly even — until they cross the line with a simple comment, gesture, or touch.
As I grab a blue roll and cleaning materials and set to clearing up the mess, my mind runs through what I really want to say to ‘Creepy Egg Guy’:
Do you honestly fucking think this is the highlight of my day?! That the most I do in this job is 'sit1' at the till serving creepy guys like you?!
Next time, one word out of line - I'm barring him.
If this experience feels familiar, please feel to share your tales of rage in the comments below.
I’m sharing this tale as during July, I have plans to explore notions of public food in some of my posts. Consider my tale of egg rage a wee introduction to the delights of bringing food to the people.
I’d never sit at that till unless I was doing admin (usually shop orders) and trying to concentrate, as it was not the kind of job where you can sit down for any length of time if you’re doing it properly.
what!!!! was that supposed to be a chat up line?! appalling!