Cutting In Line
The other day I went into Hobby Lobby to look at some poster frames. To my surprise they were on sale, had the black wood trim I was looking for and were the right size. Ethan has requested that his new room be a Star Wars theme and since he’s our only child we tend to spoil him some. Plus in all fairness, I choose the cars & trucks theme he’s been stuck with since he was born. So it is time for a change.
My brother gave Ethan some posters that were his a long time ago. They are still wrapped with cardboard behind them and in perfect condition. My problem had been finding frames to match the size. Online the frames were going to cost me anywhere from $89 - $110. I was thankful to find exactly what I wanted at Hobby Lobby, plus they were 50% off!
I wasn’t in a hurry so I stood in the only open line behind a lady with a young child, who upon first glance was extremely antsy. In front of her at the checkout was a woman with three cartloads of craft items that I heard her say where for Vacation Bible School.
So we all three stood there for a few minutes when another line opened. I moved my cart back so that the antsy woman could make a mad dash for the other register, but I stayed put.
The problem was that there were two older ladies who made it to the new line before the antsy lady. So she mumbled and jumbled, and finally decided to stay in the new line. Seeing that she wasn’t headed back to my line, I moved up behind the Vacation Bible School woman and waited.
I admit there are days and moments when I am not patient. That is not my strong suit, but I’m working on it. Situations like this are good practice.
Suddenly things sped up and it was almost my turn to check-out. The other line was now doing the dreaded intercom call, “I need a price check on aisle 4.” As I’m reaching for my frames, the antsy lady appears at my side and says, “I was in line here.”
Shocked I replied, “You were?”
“Yes, this is my line. Excuse me,” she said as she started to reach over my cart to lay her items on the counter.
“No. Excuse me. You left this line.”
“Don’t make a scene. It’s not like I’m cutting. We aren’t in third grade,” she said while laughing.
So I pulled my cart back a little to allow her to check-out. The older woman behind me who looked like a sweet grandmother and was purchasing a cart full of yarn loudly stated, “What a bitch!”
I almost spit my gum out, but contained myself enough to politely smile at her. (What it reminded me of is something my own grandmother would have said well above a whisper in a crowded store.)
After the antsy lady finished emptying her cart onto the counter, yet another cashier opened. I stayed put, but the grandmother behind me insisted I go ahead to the open line. While signing my receipt I notice that the antsy lady had an issue. Apparently, the register had locked up and it wouldn’t scan items. She shuffled back and forth in anticipation, and realized she was now stuck where she was.
Meanwhile the line she moved to the first time had cleared. The grandmother buying the yarn had already checked out after moving to that line and was headed out the door. As I pushed my cart out the entrance I politely smiled at the antsy woman and went on my way.
Sometimes it pays to be patient.
|
Sponsorship
If you've got a product, service or website that you'd like to promote on Fenicle, email me at info[@]fenicle[.]com to find out about our advertising opportunities. |
My name is Emily. I’m 30 years old. I have often been told that I ask a lot of questions, but I think I have more to say than ask.
what a little pain in the rear.
I love it when they get what’s coming to them!
this TOTALLY rules. It also reminds me of when The Boy and I were shopping at Christmas one year and this lady literally ripped a sweater out of my hands to buy it. He said “well Merry FUCKING CHRISTMAS, BITCH!!”
she FLIPPED out and RAN to the register to buy the sweater, slipping as she ran, and tearing it as she slid on the floor.
Ah, patience.
I would have said, “You know what? Using your logic, this was my line last week when I was here, so you should get behind me,” and then let her piss her pants with anxiety.
But that’s just me.
That’s freakin’ awesome. She totally got what she deserved and for once it’s nice to see things come back and bite mean people. Sometimes I’m in a hurry, too (I’m trying to learn how to plan enough time and just relax), but I would never do something like that! Wow!
I think you were very gracious Emily. I am not really sure what I would have done, but I think I would have kept my place in line and told her, in a polite way of course, to get lost.
That was extremely rude and unfortunately so many people today think they are ‘entitled’. I have often wondered how people can think they are so much more important than anyone else?
I like Scifi Dad’s response….too funny!
This made me laugh. A lot. You were SO GOOD! Good for you!
Now if that guy who passes you at 90 miles an hour would only GET PULLED OVER, JUST FRICKING ONCE, all would be right with the world.
Oh I do so go back and forth in those situations. Sometimes I bite my tongue and bide my time. Other times I let it rip.
I noticed that adults will, without a thought, push past kids. Now that annoys me, and I will get very bristly about it.
For example, I had four girls in line at a women’s restroom. A door opened and a woman pushed past us to enter the stall.
I moved aside to block her and ushered in the child, who may or may not have noticed, and I said, passive aggressively and loud enough, “Go on honey, I’m sure the nice lady was thinking about something else and would never intentionally cut in front of you.”
So…bitchy? Yeah, probably, but…maybe not too out of line.
No pun intended.
Karma is a fabulous thing!
Karma? definitely a bitch.
Now Karma…*THAT’s* a bitch! Ha ha - boo sucks to that silly cow - I mean what does she think - you’re blind? Or just dumb? BAH!
Sometimes we get to see the dog have it’s day.. And yes I absolutely believe in Karma My daughter tells me it really is out there giving us the good and the bad…and then I get nervous wondering what I’ve ever done to anyone so it doesn’t come back and hit me in the butt…
And by the way….I would have called her a bitch..as well.. Although I’m trying to be a kinder nicer person.. it’s not easy..as I rather enjoyed being frank..and outright opinionated…
Dorothy from grammology
remember to call gram
I usually graciously give way to those in such a hurry to zip through life. I most likely would’ve used a few choice Passamaquoddy words, said with just enough of a nasty tone to make her spend the day wondering what I’d said to her. Trust me, she’d be better off not knowing what this cranky Old Indian would utter in that situation. Ain’t Karma great though??
I love it! The trifecta would have been if she went out to the parking lot, found her car smashed and a note in her windshield saying something like “Face it, woman - I’m older and have more insurance.”