As The Station Turns 6/14

 I've come to the conclusion that the New Guy isn't being properly trained. Yesterday he left a dollar in quarters in the drawer so I had to drop a roll from the safe right away. Today, he left a $100 bill, which I had to cash out for small bills right away. Also every night when he comes in one of the other people are doing the cigarette count. He's not going to know anything, let's hope he doesn't have to work alone. Honestly, he needs to have to do everything the first week. This is a pending disaster and I hope I don't have to deal with it.

I was trying to tell a customer where the lids for the cold cups were, simple instructions. I told him three time while pointing and he didn't listen to a word I said. I finally stormed over and pointed "there they are". Listen, look, pay attention. Those round plastic things next to the cups, yes, they are "lids"

At the first of the shift I have to do the cigarette count, all the loose packs of smokes by brand and price. As I was trying to do this I kept getting tag teamers at the register, especially when I was in the middle of a long count. I finally got enough of a break to count them all and....yep the whole place cleared out. Seriously, the next time I go to buy a lottery ticket I'm going to think about sweeping the floor to see what happens.

I was waiting on a customer when another guy tried to push his way up to the register, waving his hand at me. I ignored him until I was done with the first guy then I waited on him. He wanted two quarters for the air machine. Wait your turn pal.

A woman wanted to do a tap on her phone but she had to keep punching buttons, have that ready when you come to the register. Then it asked her for her PIN, which she did know. She went out to the truck to get it and when she came back we went through the whole process of her getting the tap to work and she had the wrong PIN. She said she was going out to get the guy, whose phone it was suppose to be, to put in the right number but they left. I don't think it was their card.

There was an RV parked out on the edge of the property. The guy started bugging people for a jump but he mostly scared them off. He was going to ask me but I was busy dumping the trash plus since I'm working alone I have to keep an eye on the register, I can't be out of site of the counter. The Tow Truck driver came in and decided to be nice, he got the guy up and running and didn't charge him for it, normally it would be $50. The guy must have been pissed that I didn't help him because he tore out of there. I don't care, I'm just glad that he didn't set up camp.

Always with the paper towels. I knew the roll in the Men's room was low last night and it probably ran out during the Graveyard Shift. Did they replace it? Nope. Did Mrs Late Guy? Nope. Instead it was me again. I can't tell you how much that bugs me. Again, they are suppose to be teaching the New Guy and what are they teaching him? To sit behind the counter all night and play on his phone. And how do I know that? There was a box of chips behind the counter, and an almost empty shelf when I left yesterday. Today there was a full box of chips behind the counter and an empty shelf. Yeah, this will end badly.

Yesterday I was mobbed and across the street was empty. Today was the opposite, they were busy and I was mostly empty. I loved it.

The register still requires a signature on a receipt paper. I asked a woman if she wanted a receipt and she said "no", then grabbed the one I had her sign. Why would I ask you to sign a slip I'm giving to you?

A guy was asking if there were any brand name warehouse style hardware stores around here. Sorry, the nearest one is a 100 miles away. Welcome to rural America.

The Storyteller came in and he collects coins. So if I ever find an interesting one I save it and sell it to him. Today was a 1971 Kennedy half dollar. He started telling me about the year and mentioned that his father had gone to work for a new ranch. Hey, I know that place, every year they would throw a "branding party", there was no branding involved, it was just an excuse for the locals to get together and have fun. The Storyteller started telling me a new story! but he got interrupted by a customer and couldn't finish. I'm going to have to remember and try to trigger him some time in the future. A new story, man.

At 9 PM I got a pisser rush. I figured they all had been at other stations that closed on them so they came to the only place that was still open. I hate that, however I was busy enough that I couldn't go check the restroom, that was going to be the Graveyard Shift's problem. Perhaps they can finally teach the New Guy something. I also didn't have an opportunity to warn him about the Manager on Monday morning, and the Graveyard Shift Guy runs out the door before she gets there. The poor guy is going to face the wrath. I'm not going to get to know his name because I don't see him lasting.

I avoided the place on Monday, I don't need to hear the Late Guy complain about the Random Woman or someone trying to get me to cover a shift. Let those people work it out themselves.