Mrs. Late Guy had a thing to do on Sunday afternoon so I went in an hour early. The place was mobbed. I haven't seen it that busy since "the war" and the price increase. Also the wind was blowing so it meant I was going to have a bad day. And I was off.
I was watching the goings on across the street, some guy had pulled into the pumps wrong so he was trying to turn around and pull in to the diesel pump. There are acres of room over there and you can drive all they way around the building but instead he was trying to pull forwards and back up, with a trailer, back and forth, back and fourth, it took him a good ten minutes to finally get around to where he could finally get to the pump without dragging the trailer across the barriers. And in two minutes he could have pulled around the building. Oh well, I was entertained.
A woman got a soda, but used a coffee cup. It's no big difference to me, I knew what to charge her, however she couldn't figure out what lid to use. She was trying to use the lids labeled for the soda cups, since she got soda, instead of the ones labeled for the coffee cups, which she was using. I kept telling her to use the right lids, but she got soda so shouldn't she use a soda lid? Then her daughter got involved and I got really frustrated. They finally said, "these are for the coffee cups" and I told her "Yes, you are using a coffee cup". If there had been a point in my life when someone listened to what I said I would be pissed but after all these decades I'm use to it.
The Homeless Millionaire came in and he was all wired up. He counted through his stuff, said something strange, and left. I saw him ride it bike through oncoming traffic and head across the street. Then he came storming back to the Truck Stop and asked for a pack of cigarettes Being-Sure-To-Put-Emphasis-On-Every-Word. I knew his brand so I was already halfway to getting them while he was still talking. I rang it out, he mumbled something and then stormed out. Later the Late Guy came by and I asked what happened across the street. The Random Woman was ringing up his smokes and he got pissed that it was taking too long. She said if he didn't behave himself she was going to start asking for his ID, which he probably doesn't have. The got into a shouting match and she told him to not come back as he stormed out. He'll have forgotten by the next day and go back, and be nicer. He keeps talking about heading south or even out to L.A. and I won't mind.
The Last Guy told me the company was gearing up to sell hot foods like hot dogs or nachos. Oh I'm not looking forward to that. I've worked at places that do that stuff before and it's a mess, plus the waste and all the health department regulations. These days you have to pass a food handling class and I can't imagine someone like Stinky being able to do that. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
For the second time since I moved over to the Truck Stop I've had to change out the soda syrup. What the heck? Can't it run out on someone else's shift? And of course I was busy the whole time.
A guy with an EV came in looking for a charging port. I told him where the closest one was but he said they didn't fit his car. I though those things would be universal, one design for all cars but I guess they have to make things difficult. Anyhow I gave him directions to another place even though I have no idea what their plugs are like. Also wouldn't they have them listed on Google?
An Earth Wanderer came in, I could barely understand what she was saying, she was an interesting one. She asked if she could fill up her water bottle and I told her sure. She did and then left. So that didn't turn out bad which was nice. Usually when the wind blows the real nut jobs come out but that didn't happen today.
Business slowed down so I figured it was a good time to get something to eat, trail mix by the way since I know better than to try to eat anything hot. Sure enough, a woman came in and was looking around. She was complaining about reducing sodium in her diet and boy did she pick the wrong place to come. She finally left and then another truck driver came in, he was describing everything in the store to someone on the phone. He finally left and I got swarmed. An hour later I went back to eating.
A guy came in looking for DEF at a pump (Diesel Exhaust Fluid). I told him nobody around here had that and he left. I'm sure he didn't believe me. Happy hunting dude.
I started my end of the shift stuff but two women came in and wandered around the whole store. At one point they got into an argument about the amount of chocolate chips in the various packages of cookies. All I wanted was for them To Leave! Finally they came up to the register so I could ring them out, then they decided the needed something else. ARRRRGGGG! Then the Boss came in and every time I tried to step away from the register he asked me another question. He usually runs in, does his stuff and leaves but today he wanted to hang out. he finally left.
I bagged up all the restroom trash and was about to carry the bag out to the dumpster and again I got swarmed so I has to set it off to the side. An older guy came in and was waiting for someone to fill up at the pump and naturally he had to hang out right in front of the register. I can't tell you how much I hate that. Go away so I can do stuff or other customers can buy stuff. Some people have zero awareness of the universe.
Once again the place cleared out so I figured I would do the ice in the soda machines early. I went to the office got out the step ladder, took the lid off the machine and three vehicles pulled up on the lot. I quickly ran back to the office to turn off the light and close the door. Sure enough all the people who came in headed straight back there despite the big sign that say DO NOT ENTER. NO RESTROOM. If I had left the door open they would have gone into the office, wandered around and then figured out the lack of toilets probably meant something.
Stinky showed up early, thank goodness since I had been at work for 8 1/2 hours. However after buying his cigarettes and a sandwich he stood at the end of the counter staring out into space, while I dealt with a register problem. Finally 10 minutes later he logged on and I was able to close my drawer. Seriously, it's a small town, you should know how long it takes to get from your house to work, if you aren't going to clock in then don't come in I don't understand people.
As I was getting ready to leave I checked my phone and discovered that the Late Guy had tried to call me at 9 in the morning. It was way too late to answer whatever question he had. Plus, he's the manager of the Haunted Station now, he's going to have to figure it out.
Meanwhile Today 4/27
First thing this morning I got a call from the Boss. These days with my screwed up schedule I was going to work on Monday and have Tuesday off. However he wants me to take Monday off and come in on Tuesday. What's up with that? Are they going to shuffle the schedule again?
Anyhow I figured I would go for a walk and dropped by the Haunted Station to see if he knew what was going on. It turns out the Manager at the Truck Stop has to take tomorrow off so Mrs. Late Guy will be covering the afternoon shift today and the morning shift tomorrow. I'll be covering the afternoon shift. Well, that answers that.
He, the Late Guy, also told me the Part Time Woman is complaining because she doesn't want to be shuffled around from station to station and is talking about quitting. He's encouraging her to do so, I would too. If I have to see her I'm going to bring up how bad things will get once they introduce hot food to the mix. Fingers crossed.
The Late Guy also told me all the plans he has for the Haunted Station and I said it all sounded good. The problem is that there is limited space and you have to maintain a proper turnover. If you pack too much stuff in you start to have outdated stuff. I wish him the best.
No comments:
Post a Comment