Okay, here it goes. Another Old Coot, pet peeve! Well, it can\u2019t really be called a \u201cpet\u201d peeve since it is article # 652, all of which were some sort of peeve. They can\u2019t all be Pet. I\u2019ll just call this Peeve #652. It takes place in line at a counter. A checkout counter; an ordering counter; a merchandise return counter. Any counter where humans line up.<\/p>\n
The line moves along fairly well, with only the usual number of glitches: people who wait for the clerk to announce the cost before digging around for their wallet (like it\u2019s a big surprise they\u2019re going to need it), or people who change their minds and ask the clerk to remove an item from the total, or people with an expired coupon and the clerk has to ring for the manager, or the tape on the cash register runs out and has to be replaced. None of these delays push my peeve button. I expect them and have set my temperament on tolerance instead of crabby.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s okay for a while, but little by little the irritation builds up. Maybe the \u201cwallet-seeker\u201d takes extra time getting into their wallet, or the coupon challenged customer has more complications than an expired coupon; they are also trying to use it on the wrong size item. Then along comes the TALKER.<\/p>\n
She tells the clerk she likes her haircut, \u201cWhere did you get it done?\u201d The clerk is hooked! Flattery gets you a conversation. \u201cOver at Shear Paradise,\u201d she replies. \u201cKatie did it.\u201d A conversation is unleashed. The customer says, \u201cI go by that shop all the time; I\u2019ll have to give it a try.\u201d \u201cYou should,\u201d the clerk responds. \u201cThey are all excellent stylists.\u201d – \u201cIt goes great with your face,\u201d says the customer. \u201cThanks,\u201d replies the clerk. \u201cI used to have bangs, but this style changed me. I love it.\u201d Bla, bla bla, on and on go the Talker and the clerk.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, her groceries remain on the conveyor belt while some old coot standing in line holding a gallon jug of milk in one hand and juggling a Snicker\u2019s bar, a tub of ice-cream, a bottle of Dr. Pepper and a bag of chips in the other. He wasn\u2019t smart enough to grab a basket on the way in. Why bother? He just came in for milk. (I refer to myself in the third person when I do something stupid.)<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s more of the stupid part. The conversation with the clerk follows an ebb and flow pattern. Just when it appears to be coming to a close, it shoots off in a new direction. Finally, the old coot, three back from the TALKER begins to weaken; his hands are cold, turning blue and cramping up. A rumble sounds and then the volcano erupts, \u201cGET A ROOM,\u201d yells the old coot and then looks around, as though in wonder. Everyone else in line looks at him. They know who said it. They would applaud if they could do it without joining his team. Finally, the line moves forward. The old coot gets to unload his items on the counter. When the clerk looks up he says, \u201cI like your haircut; where did you get it done?\u201d<\/p>\n
Comments? Complaints? Send to mlessler7@gmail.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Okay, here it goes. Another Old Coot, pet peeve! Well, it can\u2019t really be called a \u201cpet\u201d peeve since it is article # 652, all…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\n