No More Hospitals

One of our regular mentally ill customers said something bizzare around the pharmacy, and my store manager called the cops. We watched him walk through the store, through the parking lot, and down the street. Then we watched the cops arrest him. According to one of our bystanders, the state has closed two or three mental hospitals in the last year. Which would explain the barrage of customers I've been having in the past year. They will hold that guy, for maybe a day, then release him back into our parking lot.

The D.M came in today, at around the same time as a mother-daughter duo. I went to do a stock-check for them and when I came back they commented on how helpful I always am, and how quick I always assist them. When I was ringing them up in Cos, they wanted to talk to the store manager about me. (They talked to an assistant, but he didn't respond as they wished so they requested a store manager.) Luckily the D.M heard most if not all of this...which is fabulous for me because earlier today I had two freakouts before my lunch, which, surprisingly is above my normal quota.

Cut It Up

I am fairly certain that the gentleman purchasing a Black and Mild, baking soda, and sandwich baggies was about to go cut some blow.

I also don't think that white jeans with no panties and a tube top is an appropriate outfit for the first day of high school. But apparently some people do.

The PD Came Out

I followed my coworker outside to witness three squad cars block this guy in. They approached the car, and this guy came out, smoking, and seemed willing to cooperate. He shorted his cigarette, and put his hands behind his back. They cuffed him and took off his hat. It was a minute before the other guy came out, turned around, and they cuffed him too. I wish I knew what they were getting arrested for...but it took three squads to take them in, so it must have been serious.

Twenty minutes later, the impound guys came and loaded that car up.

While we were standing outside, I noticed that the mulch was on fire again. Yes, I put it out. Guess its' still crazy dry outside.

Hallmark and Dms'

I spent the entire day in the Hallmark aisle and I'm still not done. But the DM stopped by and said
"Hallmark is such an intimate thing that people do"
and
"The bags look great"
so I was happy.

I told one of my regulars that the woman we thought was a time traveler was more likely a teacher or a counselor or someone who works with children. I have come to that conclusion because she greeted a child near my register, asking her is she was coming back this year, and if she was ready. When I told my regular this, he said that time travelers are often tricky and potential liars. So obviously he isn't buying her teacher act. And I think he was drunk.

Two Freak-Outs

One was because this woman wanted to use four mnf coupons for three items. I told her that she could not use the extra mnf coupon because her Ziploc coupon counted for two. She said 'since when?' She got an attitude with me first, and I have a feeling that because English was obviously not her first language, there was a misunderstanding. I think she thought I was saying she couldn't use the third coupon for those items. Or she didn't understand that her Ziploc coupon was off of two. Then I wasn't sure if she actually wanted her stuff, so I threw it in my overstock basket. Apparently she did want her stuff. Then she accused me of not scanning her legit coupons. My sister says that I am normally sweet and don't start off with attitude until someone brings it. And apparently this woman brought it. She says she'll come back when I'm not here. I hope so.

A regular of mine really freaks me out, and it is getting to the point where I no longer feel obligated to put up with his bullshit. He comes in today and tells me that he has been waiting all day for me, and he is so happy to see me. Sounds ok, but totally creepy. Then he says I've put on a lot of weight since I quit smoking. I snapped at him and in a much-to-loud voice said that I'm preg, not fat. My manager comes up. I run his check through with only a few mishaps. He comes back in, and his check is denied six times before my coworker comes up and tries it. Then we move to another register. Still won't work. He is starting to get agitated so my manager reappears. There was a verbal altercation during which I thought the guy threatened to pee in our "lobby" and my manager tells him to stop swearing at him. The guy tells my manager that he doesn't call all the shots, and he isn't the shot-callers. Also, we have no idea what he lives with. A call to the cops was threatened, and the customer tells us that he is allowed to use our restroom because it is a public place. Which isn't true. My store is, in fact, private property.

My Name Is...

A guy somewhere around my age comes in with a trick bike I doubt he can actually ride.
"You guys need to have colder a/c in here.",
he says to me while I'm wearing my Abercrombie track jacket.
"Do you have a bike pump?"
"Maybe in aisle 5."
"No, I mean for free."
"Absolutely not."
"How about some cheap water?"
"Aisle 9."
He goes to get his water. And when he comes back to the register he says,
"Are you pregnant?"
"Yes, but if I wasn't I would be very upset you said that."
He lets out this tittering laugh.
"Well, I only said that because I saw you rubbing your belly like, 'uunnnggghh'."
"Uh, yeah. Well, I'm in some pain now..."
"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
"I don't, but I will the first week of September."
He squealed like a schoolgirl and said
"Oh my God! How exciting!"
and he reached out to hold my hand. Which I weirdly reciprocated.
"It is exciting. Thank you."
"Do you know what you'll name it?"
"No I do not. I did, but I do not anymore. There is some drama about that."
"There was this girl, who I hardly knew, and she had my baby, and she named it 'Musfasta'. Musfasta! I said, 'I'm not going to claim a child named Musfasta', right?
"Uhhh..."
"Congradulations! Have a great day!"
Shortly after he leaves on his bike, I hear 'Oh shit!' and some car honks.

Bittersweet Aniversary and a Hair Hat

"Do you have anniversary cards? And a granddaughter birthday card?"
"Yes I do." I dutifully pointed.
"I don't want the anniversary card to be too happy. This one is too mushy. They have had a hard year."
I handed her one that wished the couple happiness in the future.
"No, no, this is no good. He is very sick. Very sick. I don't want to sound too optimistic. Do you have some in this section?"
"I do, but they are all Happy Anniversary cards. I don't have any for a sort-of happy anniversary. Or a bittersweet one."
"What? You don't?"
"No ma'am. Have you tried the Hallmark store?"

I thought he had his hat on askew. But it was an oddly positioned dread. This skinny, very tan, wide-eyed white guy (middle-age) had let (or made) his hair dread up into a huge one coming out over the right side of his face and head. There was another dread on the same side going down the back of his neck. He seemed very out of it, but asked if there was a thrift store nearby. He got a lot of stares (only a few from me). And when he left my manager supposed on how he let himself get like that.