It is immediately obvious to me is that this customer is speaking, almost forced, in an unnaturally deep voice. He would take long pauses, thoughtfully contemplating his next word. His left eye twitched, causing the whole side of his face to wrinkle in response. This tick appeared when he spoke.
After the transaction was over, he gave me his ID, as if he didn't understand the transaction had ended and it was time for him to leave. (Note - A lot of customers don't get the closing of the cashier ritual) I handed him his ID back with his medicine and said, "That's all I need, thanks." Raising the pitch of my voice slightly at the end to indicate, "It's over, go away."
He apologized, and stated he was "almost retarded."
I was surprised by this, a retarded person wouldn't make that comment (at least not in my experience), and beyond that, he didn't seem retarded. In a worst-case-scenario he was only a little socially inept.
Not quite sure of what to say, I asked, "Why is that?"
"I'm schizophrenic," he said, looking me strait in the eye.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, it's pretty fun sometimes." He smiled, shot me a final glance where his tick almost appeared to be a wink, and walked out.
Araithica - 6/01/2005 12:25:00 AM
The fun of the random offerings of customers that only middle TN can bring. It is not unusual for those inhabitants here to not realize the end of a transaction, But if you are lucky, sometimes the next waiting victi- I mean customer.. will push them out of the way. The Cause and Effect of being in Retail way to long...
~Arai~
Chuck - 6/01/2005 09:55:00 AM
What I find interesting about a great deal of my customers, is that they have no respect for personal space. Woman 1 is in line, and I am ringing up her husband's Viagra. Woman 2 walks up and stands immediately to her left. I would only stand this close if my lover were the one I was standing next to. But there are two women, who don't know each other, and neither acts perturbed that the other is there.
Often times I have skipped over the second person because I thought they were with person 1.
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