Today reached the 90's in temperature! It helped me to remember why I will always live in the Pacific Northwest - I really do like mild temperatures and rain. I was actually pretty miserable today, but I managed to get a lot done. I went to work, but I got off two hours late. And, I'm going to have to work five hours tomorrow, and I never work Tuesdays. My coworker's sick.

But it's money. I was really excited about having only one more day to work at Subway, but now I have two. Oh well.

I want to tell you about a customer I had tonight. She was the meanest, angriest little lady I've ever seen in my life. She must have had some disorder or PMS or something.

And let me tell you something else - when I get a rude customer, my politeness level goes way up. I become extremely formal, saying "ma'am" and "sir" and using my most cordial, sweet tone of voice, coupled with a fake smile.

Okay, here's what happened.

Me: "Hi! Do you know what you want?"
Lady: "Yes. I want a tuna melt."
Me: "Okay, what kind of bread do you want?"
Lady: "Six inch parmesan."
Me: "Okay, and would you like that toasted?"
Lady, very clearly and distinctly, as if she is speaking to a three year old: "Yes, you need to toast it with the cheese and then put the tuna on top."
Me: "Sure, I can do that for you."
Lady: "No, you don't understand. You need to do that. All the time. It's the way you're supposed to do it."
Me: "Actually, we usually toast the tuna and the cheese together, but-"
Lady: "No! You do it MY way! Every Subway I know does this! I know you're supposed to do it this way!"
Me: "Okay, calm down. I would be happy to do this for you. What kind of cheese do you want?"
Lady: "But you're always supposed to do it this way!"

At this point, I'm just confused. Why is it such a big deal? I get odd requests all the time - put the mayo on before the olives, cut the meatballs in half, put the cheese with the point of the triangle facing up, cut the sandwich with a clean knife, whatever. Lots of people have quirks, people have ways they want things done. I don't care, as long as it's not really annoying. But I already told her I was willing to make it the way she wanted, and she was livid with rage.

I mean, this lady was actually shaking. She was pointing at me and her finger was shaking. Her teeth were gritted and she had this look of hatred in her eyes that kind of scared me.

At this point, my coworker, Emily, got involved. She is more outspoken than I am.

Emily: "Okay, you need to understand that Subways are independently owned, and some Subways might do things differently from the way we do it. We always toast the tuna with the cheese."
Lady: "Look, you guys taught me this. I wouldn't do this if you hadn't told me this was the way it was supposed to be done. You're doing it wrong!"
Emily: "Amber is happy to make it for you however you want, so I don't know what your problem is."

At this point, I was pleading with Emily just to stop. I just wanted to make the lady's sandwich and get her out of there. The lady finally told me what she wanted. I didn't look at her face, but she was shaking with rage. Emily said she was looking at me like she hated me and wanted to hurt me. And the funny thing is, I wasn't even the one arguing with her! I was nothing but polite the whole time!

When she got to the reigster, she asked me in an authoritative tone, "I want a business card. Do you have a business card?" It took me a minute before I realized that she wanted to complain about me to somebody in charge. I said, "I don't, but I'll get you a phone number. What do you want, the phone number for Subway headquarters? This Subway? My manager?" She said, "All of them." Stifling a giggle, I went to the back and wrote down the required phone numbers, along with a note - "On May 15, 2006, Emily and Amber were working" just so she'd have names when she called Heather to complain. She huffed out angrily, and as soon as she was gone, Emily, me, and the customer who had witnessed the whole thing all started giggling.

Even though I had to stay two hours late, it was worth it to experience that lady. I wonder if Heather got a call from her.

It's too hot to sleep, and because I'm working tomorrow I cut down my list of things to do, so I might just watch a movie now because I can, or read. Goodnight!