RouxToday's lesson...helping doesn't help
September 8th 2006 06:00
Day 6
Oh, I'm probably going to be chastened if I call today's charaters in my daily weirdfest...erm...weird. So instead, let's just say that the fact that there were two of them in the one day was weird ok? There definitely seemed to be a bit of a theme running today with the people I tried and failed to help.
Sometimes, I think I have an unknown nemesis planning customer scenarios to make my life a pain and then hiring people to carry them out. Mmm, then again maybe not. Because then that would make me a superhero wouldn’t it? No spandex outfit hiding in my cupboards I’m afraid. I just checked.
So this morning, a man in a wheelchair who looked like he suffered from Cerebral Palsy or Motor Neuron Disease rolled up to my counter. At that very moment I was trying my hardest to inconspicuously suck a Malteser. And you know how sometimes, when you are sucking a chocolate, it just melts on the roof of you mouth and then gets stuck half way down the back of you throat? And much coughing and spluttering ensues? Well, that’s what happened at the precise moment he wheeled up to me. It’s very hard to choke in a dignified manner you know.
Anyway, he needed directions, but obviously he couldn’t speak very well so I had no idea what he was asking. So I kept saying “Pardon” and screwing up my face in a confused manner that I hoped would convey my lack of recognition. And so he kept trying again. Nup, no clue.
After a few minutes of this, we both understandably started getting a little frustrated. This frustration quickly moved to annoyance, followed by the beginnings of anger. And suddenly I realised “oh my god I’m yelling at the man in the wheelchair and he’s raising his voice to mumble back at me. I’m arguing with a disabled person for not annunciating!!”
Thankfully, before I was hauled off to atone for my sins by any passers-by, I caught the meaning of a word he was wheezing. One single word. That’s all it took. Hallelujah. So I gave him the directions, helped him roll on out and we both breathed a sigh of relief.
Then later on, an obviously mentally challenged guy came to my counter. And here’s how our conversation went.
Me…”Hi, how are you?”
Him…”Can I please use your phone?”
Me…(internal monologue….geez, I’m not supposed to let the public use the phone….but the guy’s mentally challenged…..he could need help…and how would it look if I didn’t help him...not very P.C….geez) “Yeah ok, what number would you like?"
Him… (insert number) “Thank you very much!!”
Me…”You’re Welcome.”
Him……pause….”Hello. Is this blab la bla company? Yes……well I didn’t get my money this week. Are you gonna give me my money….cause if I don’t get my money IM GONNA HAFTA SELL DRUGS ON THE STREET. DO YOU WANT ME TO HAFTA DO THAT? OR I'LL COME TO YOUR OFFICE AND COMMIT SUICIDE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU CAUSE I NEED MY MONEY AND YOU HAVENT GIVEN IT TO ME YET AND IM GONNA COME AND BLOW UP YOUR BUILDING!!……”
Every head within hearing distance simultaneously swiveled to where this guy was standing. The movement was so synchronized it could have been a choreographed excerpt from the “Thriller” video. Except, instead of zombies, they were very well dressed, high up business types in a very quiet, hoity toity business environment. It took me ages to get the phone off the guy.
And people wonder why I’m not very accommodating....
Oh, I'm probably going to be chastened if I call today's charaters in my daily weirdfest...erm...weird. So instead, let's just say that the fact that there were two of them in the one day was weird ok? There definitely seemed to be a bit of a theme running today with the people I tried and failed to help.
Sometimes, I think I have an unknown nemesis planning customer scenarios to make my life a pain and then hiring people to carry them out. Mmm, then again maybe not. Because then that would make me a superhero wouldn’t it? No spandex outfit hiding in my cupboards I’m afraid. I just checked.
So this morning, a man in a wheelchair who looked like he suffered from Cerebral Palsy or Motor Neuron Disease rolled up to my counter. At that very moment I was trying my hardest to inconspicuously suck a Malteser. And you know how sometimes, when you are sucking a chocolate, it just melts on the roof of you mouth and then gets stuck half way down the back of you throat? And much coughing and spluttering ensues? Well, that’s what happened at the precise moment he wheeled up to me. It’s very hard to choke in a dignified manner you know.
Anyway, he needed directions, but obviously he couldn’t speak very well so I had no idea what he was asking. So I kept saying “Pardon” and screwing up my face in a confused manner that I hoped would convey my lack of recognition. And so he kept trying again. Nup, no clue.
After a few minutes of this, we both understandably started getting a little frustrated. This frustration quickly moved to annoyance, followed by the beginnings of anger. And suddenly I realised “oh my god I’m yelling at the man in the wheelchair and he’s raising his voice to mumble back at me. I’m arguing with a disabled person for not annunciating!!”
Thankfully, before I was hauled off to atone for my sins by any passers-by, I caught the meaning of a word he was wheezing. One single word. That’s all it took. Hallelujah. So I gave him the directions, helped him roll on out and we both breathed a sigh of relief.
Then later on, an obviously mentally challenged guy came to my counter. And here’s how our conversation went.
Me…”Hi, how are you?”
Him…”Can I please use your phone?”
Me…(internal monologue….geez, I’m not supposed to let the public use the phone….but the guy’s mentally challenged…..he could need help…and how would it look if I didn’t help him...not very P.C….geez) “Yeah ok, what number would you like?"
Him… (insert number) “Thank you very much!!”
Me…”You’re Welcome.”
Him……pause….”Hello. Is this blab la bla company? Yes……well I didn’t get my money this week. Are you gonna give me my money….cause if I don’t get my money IM GONNA HAFTA SELL DRUGS ON THE STREET. DO YOU WANT ME TO HAFTA DO THAT? OR I'LL COME TO YOUR OFFICE AND COMMIT SUICIDE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU CAUSE I NEED MY MONEY AND YOU HAVENT GIVEN IT TO ME YET AND IM GONNA COME AND BLOW UP YOUR BUILDING!!……”
Every head within hearing distance simultaneously swiveled to where this guy was standing. The movement was so synchronized it could have been a choreographed excerpt from the “Thriller” video. Except, instead of zombies, they were very well dressed, high up business types in a very quiet, hoity toity business environment. It took me ages to get the phone off the guy.
And people wonder why I’m not very accommodating....
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