One of the very first nights living in Empowerment City, USA I realized quite late that I needed coffee creamer. I have a strong preference for Sugar Free Hazelnut Creamer from Nestle/CoffeeMate. “Strong” meaning if you don’t have that particular creamer, forget the coffee.
Also? Me without coffee = disaster.
Using the combination of Garmin and Google, I could only come up with one grocery/convenience store open at midnight.
*sidenote: Why does everyone go to bed so early here? And why isn’t there a 24 grocery store?
Under the command of Garmin, I drove and drove until I found the one store still open. I may have been in Canada, but I’m not sure.
I see some people inside acting strangely and wait in my car until they left. They were acting strangely as though they may have been contemplating a robbery or something.
They leave and I go in and am immediately greeted by a 20 something Caucasian male, wild eyed and hair to match. The first words out of his mouth:
Youreadyyet?/Youreadyyet?/Youreadyyet?/Youreadyyet?
“Uh, no” I replied. I just wanted some creamer and a Sunday paper.
Wecan’tsellthat!/Wecan’tsellthat!/Wecan’tsellthat!
Wild eyed and busy filling the soda machine with ice; I ignore him to look for my creamer.
They don’t have any. They just have the tiny creamer containers you would put in your coffee right there in the store.
It is NOT sugar free.
I decide this will suffice and grab four of them noticing Mr. Wild Eyes is getting more agitated by the minute.
“Is it ok if I buy these creamers and a Sunday paper?” I ask.
Nononononononono! Wedontsellthose/Wedon’tsellthose/Wedon’tsellthose! Itsforthecofeecoffeecoffeecoffee!
“I know,” I said. “I just wanted to buy a few to have in my coffee tomorrow.”
Youcanbuycoffeenownownownow!
“I don’t want coffee now, I just wanted to buy these four creamers to put in my coffee tomorrow,” I repeated.
Youreadyyetyoureadyyetyoureadyyet?
I went over to the newsstands and not seeing a Sunday paper, asked if he had any Sunday papers yet.
NO! But I’ll sell you an early edition and we’ll call it Sunday. It will be our secret but you can’t tell anyone. I mean NO ONE!
He then comes at me with a box cutter knife and I realize (yes, I was a little slow on the uptake, but I had just moved all day and was exhausted) he might not be the most mentally stable person to be handling box cutters. He continues toward me and I am backing up on my crutches as fast as I can. He’s coming fast and at the last second, flips the knife toward the newspapers.
“Yes, of course,” I reply gently, “Our secret.”
Youreadyyetyoureadyyetyoureadyyet?
“Yes, quite” I say making my way to the register.
Youreadyyetyoureadyyetyoureadyyet?
I put the four creamers on the counter along with my dissected Sunday/”Early edition” paper. I reach into my purse to pay and he is very agitated, moreso than before and says, “I already told you! Can'tsell/can'tsell/can'tsell/can'tsell!”
“So I don’t owe any money,” I asked inquisitively.
Can'tsell/can'tsell/can'tsell/can'tsell!
“Ok, I hear you,” I said. So just to be sure, I don’t owe any money?
Register two! If you want to pay money, next register!
I immediately move to the next register, wanting out as soon as possible.
“Ok, how much?” I said brightly.
"You can’t pay for these!" I already told you, "can’t sell!"
I pick up the bag and pushing the door open as best as I can, said once again, “So we’re all square money wise?”
Wild eyed, he ruffles his hair and screams, “JUST LEAVE!”
I get into my car as fast as I can and feel horrible for thinking the people inside before me may have been thinking about a robbery. They were probably just as freaked out as I was by this guy.
Thinking about it on my way home, I arrive at the assumption he needed medication, was off his medication or had not been diagnosed at this point with whatever malady he suffers from.
I also realized I was lucky to be driving home and nothing bad happened but thought it a sad situation for this person.
What would you have done?
9 comments:
Creepy. But me? I wouldn't have gone out that late.
Scary.
Oh my. I wonder if the person who hired him knows he's unstable, or if he went off his meds after he got hired.
Also just had to say that's the same creamer we buy for my husband. He wouldn't care if it had sugar but I buy the sugar free. The kids like some in their milk occasionally, too.
yep. Sounds like you walked into the middle of something. Maybe that guy was not supposed to be there and he just wanted you gone.
maybe the real cashier was knocked out and hidden in back.
ok. I watch WAY too many movies.
Yeah. i'd be scared too and would have skipped coffee.
Nothing wrong with him... just too much coffee with sugar.
I probably would have done something to torment the poor thing, then gotten chopped up with a box cutter.
sounds like he was tweaking on meth. Seriously. Maybe that's what the guys in the parking lot were doing; they may have just sold him some?
Anyway, sorry I forgot to remind you that almost nothing in your neck of the woods is open after nine. And a 24 hour grocery store? fuggedaboutit. I learned to make a VERY good shopping list while living out there.
I am pretty sure I would have just left. Thats creepy.
Sounds like he was tweaking. He probably had some drugs in his system. Speed, maybe? To keep him awake.
Post a Comment