Amy was sick of it all! Sick of work, sick of people, and just sick of the world in general. “Amy, can you handle this?” “Amy, can you talk to this customer for me?” “What do you mean I can’t get a refund?”
Were people just being born stupid these days?!?
Oh! These customers just didn’t seem to have an original thought of their own! Each one had the same problems and made the same arguments. Day after day. Amy just wanted to strangle them all.
Vacation may be the answer. But Amy also understood that once she left work, even for just a week or two, she would probably not return. She didn’t have a backup plan or another job lined up, so she put the vacation off.
Then it happened: the last straw on the camel’s back. A customer walked into her retail department, dismissed all of her employees as “incompetent”, tried to make a purchase with an expired credit card, didn’t have any photo identification, and ultimately screeched the dreaded words: “I’d like to speak to your manager.” The customer yelled, ranted, and raved against Amy. On any other occasion, Amy would stand there, unassailable. Eventually, waiting for the customer to quiet down, Amy would be able to talk sense into the person and successfully resolve the situation. However, this particular customer had come into Amy’s store causing trouble and was looking for conflict rather than a “resolution to a perceived injustice.”
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Amy waited as long as she could. When the woman wouldn’t stop the infernal screeching, cursing, and degradation, Amy’s patience evaporated.
“I am sorry ma’am. But if you will not calm down, I will be forced to call the authorities.”
Of course, in this situation, the customer felt threatened and was getting the conflict (or attention) that was desired. Amy did call security, and the woman was escorted from the store without any merchandise. When the woman was gone, Amy put the assistant manager in charge for the next month and just left.
Just. Like. That.
It was the most liberating feeling!
She was out in the daylight and without any paperwork hanging over her head.
Amy took a big breath of the fresh air. No recycled air conditioning! No spirited customers! And no disgruntled employees! It was just her and fresh air and sunshine.
Where would she go? Amy had a whole month to reset her life and put herself on a more desirable path. Cancún? Bermuda? Greece? Why not? It had been ten years since her last vacation. She had the funds. She had the time. She could do what she wanted!