I went into an auto-parts store for a small part. I found the part quickly and went to pay for it. At this auto-parts store, the cash registers are at the same desk where people go to ask for help figuring out what part they need.

A man and his son were there ahead of me. I got in line behind them. The man started arguing about something really petty. I don’t remember what it was, but it was something very trivial. The employee was politely apologizing for the tiny inconvenience — over and over, because the man was complaining about the same thing over and over. I could see that his son was uncomfortable but seemed to be used to this from his dad.

It went on for a LONG, LONG time. We had been the only customers in the store when I had walked up, but over time more and more people came in and eventually got in line behind me.

FINALLY he gave up and started walking away. The clerk turned to me and asked what he could do for me. I replied, in my loudest non-shouting voice, and pretending to be very pleasantly surprised:

ALREADY?? I JUST GOT IN LINE TODAY!!

The boy immediately turned and smiled, as did the clerk. I heard a chuckle from a customer in line behind me. The man who had made us all wait so long seemed quite surprised but made no comment.