Five things that went wrong with work on the fourth of July
1. When I first got into the store a fat man ran straight into me knocking the wind from my lungs
2. I forgot my badge so I had to say Hi, my name is: __________ how are you? all day
3. I didn't get my lunch break because my lovely manager forgot to schedule me one. Later I was chided by Lisa because I'm a minor and it's required that I get a lunch break every three and a half hours
4. I dropped a large glass container of Artichokes on my foot. Ouch.
5. Jacob turned out to be a jerk! YOU JERK!
And that's where my day starts off...
Ok, so there's this guy I work with and he's just started working there about a month ago. At first, I was really taken aback by him. He was just so amazingly adoring and nice - overly nice. I was just thinking to myself, "Oh my god. Where have you been hiding and why isn't everyone as great as you?" He was just that great! His personality just struck me with such a great force of... I don't even know what to call it.
Let's just call him "Jacob". Ok "Jacob" (I'm not going to keep doing this) was incredibly nice until about a week or so ago. It started out with Jacob teasing my buddy Danelle. She had to ride her bike home the night before and he was making fun of it because they went to County Line (a dance/drinking club) that night as well. "Hey, Danelle, did you ride your bike to the club, too?" I sort of laughed and told him that was pretty good. I really thought he was just messing with her.
Until he had to go on break to do cast (mopping), and she said, "I really think he hates me. He's so mean to me."
It kind of shocked me. I remembered thinking, "No. Not Jacob. He's so sweet." Errr! I think I thought wrong.
"He's just joking, I can assure," I tried to tell her.
But she shook her head. "No, he's not. I think he means it."
When he came back, I pulled him to the side and asked him what was on my mind. "Are you being serious when you're making fun of Danelle? Are you really being mean to her?"
He kind of shrugged. "It's ok. She mean to me."
However, I was taught different. I was taught that two wrongs don't make a right (though I sometimes don't take this thought to heart). That was from my mother, but dad taught me that you get what's coming to you. I'm just stuck in the middle of what's right and wrong here. Is Jacob justified in being mean to Danelle because she supposedly doesn't "respect" him as he stated.
"She always sighs when I come over," he said a bit dramatically.
"What?"
"Yeah, see? That's the respect I get."
Clearly he misunderstood me.
That's what he was upset about? That's what he was upset over?
He is only fifteen so I guess I can cut him some slack. Maybe. Should I? Is he just being a selfish, immature brat like all fifteen year olds are?
Who's over-reacting here? Me, Danelle, or Jacob?
Next, Jacob isn't only "teasing" Danelle, he's started on me too. It really makes me feel hurt and a little angry that he would just be a jerk for no reason, especially since I was so nice to him. I HAD HIS FREAKING BACK (without even meaning too)!
I asked for help on my register because there was literally ten people in line.
"Got tired of bagging?"
"Shut up, I've been bagging all day. You just got here, remember."
"Oh, you poor thing," he said in a mock baby voice.
Poor thing? Poor? Thing?
I was so confused at this point. "Fine. Just go then. I got it," I said coldly.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" he mocked again.
I just glared at him. His eyebrows lifted and I knew he got the picture. He turned and went to help someone else.
I am NOT someone to be messed with. I've made a grown ass adult cry. A man.
As my dad would've told me, he had it coming.
I should have a shirt that says: Don't F*CK with me!
Because I may seem quiet and shy but I have a huge temper and I WILL go off on you. I don't take teasing with a pinch of salt (or however that saying goes). I take it as personal. I can tell when you're kidding and when you're not. You dish it out with no reason behind it and I will dish it back ten times harder.
Jacob was an exception however seeing as he came off totally different at first sight.
Later on, he still had the courage to mess with me. "You got it over there?"
I had a customer coming so I only mouthed what I said, "You wanna kiss my @$$?"
He threw his hands up in defense, saying, "I was just checking!"
Yeah, okay.
Finally it was 6:30 and time for me to go home. It was 4th of July and I wanted nothing more than to dig into a hamburger. I was starving.
I was going to buy something so I went through Danelle's line. But then I realized I didn't have the money for it. I ordered Jacob to put it back for me.
"Do you know where it goes?" I taunted. Ha. It was my turn. "Or do we need to tell you?"
"How about we show him?" Danelle chided in. We both grinned.
He didn't say a word and left to put the discarded item away.
"I wanna hit him," I muttered.
"You like him?" she said.
"No! I said I want to hit him. Beat him. You know, kick him where the sun don't shine."
"Oh. I thought you said you liked him. I was like 'aww, that's cute'."
"No, definetely not. There's a difference between liking him and wanting to... throttle him."
"I think he likes me," she whispered.
Again, I was shocked by this. "You think he what?"
"I think he likes me. Either that or he picks on me extra special."
"He picks on me too. I don't know what's up with him. He's been such a jerk today," I said.
Maybe he's on the rag.
"I know," she said exasperatedly.
"Maybe he's in love with us?" I said, laughing at the thought. "You know the saying, you tease the ones you like."
"Oh, well then, he definetely loves me," she said.
"You and the rest of the store," I jested.
We both chuckled and I turned and left the store. I got in my dad's truck and we went home.
Maybe I'll just ignore Jacob at work for now on.
Or maybe I'll rip him into pieces before the year is up. I like that better.