I was just enjoying my day at the old fort, walking through the dusty halls and imagining what it must have been like way back when. The sun felt good on my arms, and there was a nice cool breeze coming off the water. I stopped by a big display case that showed old uniforms and weapons from a long time ago. I was looking real close at a cannonball, trying to figure out how heavy it actually was, when someone stomped up next to me.
“Excuse me! I need some help right now!” a voice snapped. It was loud and kinda sharp, like fingernails on a chalkboard. I flinched a little, surprised that someone would talk so rude. I turned my head, and there she was, standing too close, with her chin pushed out.
“I am looking for the gift shop, and I can’t find the right entrance. It’s supposed to be right near the main gate, but I keep just seeing the tickets office. Can you show me the way?” she demanded, not even waiting for me to say anything. She had her hands on her hips, like she was ready for a fight.
I blinked at her, feeling a little confused. “Oh, I think you might have me mixed up,” I said, trying to be polite. “I don’t actually work here. I’m just visiting, like you.” I pointed a little with my thumb back towards the cannonball in the case.
She just stared at me for a second, her eyes wide, like I’d said something in a different language. Then her face got all pinched. “That’s ridiculous. Of course you work here. You’re standing right here by the exhibits, and you’re just standing around. Stop wasting my time and tell me where the gift shop is. I need to buy a specific type of mug, and I want to get it before we leave.” Her voice was getting louder, and my shoulders started to tense up.
I shook my head slowly. “No, really, I don’t. I don’t have a uniform, I don’t have a name tag. I’m just a visitor. I bought my ticket just like everyone else. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you find the gift shop because I don’t know where it is either, exactly.” My throat felt a little tight saying it all again.
“Oh, don’t play games with me! You people always try to shirk your duties. I know you’re supposed to help customers. It’s your job! Now, are you going to help me find the commemorative mugs or not? My husband is waiting in the car, and he gets very antsy when I’m gone too long.” Her voice had gone up another notch, and I could feel my jaw clenching. A dull ache started to form right behind my eyes.
A sigh escaped me, and it felt like it pulled all the air out of my lungs. “Listen to me carefully,” I said, making my voice a little firmer this time, trying to get through to her. “I. Do. Not. Work. Here. I am not an employee. I am a customer, just like you. I cannot help you. You need to find someone who actually works at this fort.” I tried to look calm, but my blood was starting to pound in my ears.
Her face got even redder. “How dare you talk to me like that! You are being incredibly rude and unhelpful! I’m going to report you! What’s your name? I’m going to make sure you get fired for this! Refusing to help a customer, that’s just awful customer service. I’ve never been treated so poorly in my life. This place will hear about this, I promise you.” She took a step closer, puffing out her chest.
I felt a surge of pure annoyance. My hands balled into fists at my sides without me even thinking about it. “You can’t report me because I don’t work here! You can’t get me fired because I don’t have a job here! What part of ‘I don’t work here’ don’t you understand? Go find an actual employee!” I practically yelled the last part, my voice cracking a little from the force of it. My face felt hot, and I could feel myself getting incredibly angry.
She gasped, a loud, theatrical sound. “Oh! So now you’re yelling at me! This is absolutely unacceptable! I demand to speak to your manager right now! You are going to regret this. I want to buy a magnet with the fort’s logo on it, and I want you to take me there. It’s your responsibility to serve the paying public!” Her eyes narrowed, like she was trying to burn holes right through me.
I just stared at her, seeing red. My head was throbbing now. I wanted to just walk away, but she was blocking my path a little, and I felt stuck. I didn’t know how to make her understand. It was like talking to a brick wall. My patience was completely gone, evaporated into the warm air around us. I could feel sweat starting to trickle down my back, even with the cool breeze.
“Listen, lady, I don’t know what else to tell you. I don’t have a uniform. I’m wearing regular clothes. I don’t have a radio or a name tag. I don’t work here. I am not going to help you find anything because I can’t. Please just leave me alone.” My voice was tight, barely a whisper now, as I tried to regain some control.
“This is outrageous! You absolute disgrace! I’m going to stand right here until you do your job! This is going to be a terrible review for this entire establishment! I’ll tell everyone not to come here. I’ll make sure your supervisors know how rude you’ve been. You’ll be lucky to have a job tomorrow!” she shrieked, her voice reaching a pitch that made my ears ring.
Before I could open my mouth to say anything else, a man suddenly appeared next to her. He was holding a plastic bottle of water. He put a hand gently on her arm. “Honey, what’s going on here? I heard you from all the way outside. Is everything alright?” he asked, his voice calm, like a quiet stream.
She whipped her head towards him. “This employee here is refusing to help me! She’s been incredibly rude and yelled at me! I just want to find the gift shop to get a trinket, and she won’t even tell me where it is! She needs to be disciplined!” she ranted, gesturing wildly in my direction.
The man looked at me, then at her. He took in my lack of uniform, the way I was just standing there with my hands still clenched, my face probably bright red. He gave me a small, apologetic shrug. Then he turned back to her. “Darling, she doesn’t work here. See, she’s dressed like a visitor. She doesn’t have a special outfit. You’ve got the wrong person. Remember I told you I saw the gift shop signs near the main exit when I went to get water? Let’s just go that way. It’s right around the corner from the big wooden gates. We can find your little souvenirs there without bothering anyone else.” He gently took her arm, turning her around.
She sputtered a little, looking from me to him, and then back again, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. She looked confused for a second, then finally let him lead her away, still muttering under her breath about rude people and bad service. I watched them go, a shaky breath leaving my lips. My heart was still hammering against my ribs, but the headache was starting to ease up a little.
