"Did you get anything out of it?"

Here's a little slice of life at New Balance. I choose to describe the scene in detail, for the sake of prose. Don't worry, it has a happy ending.

"Do you have any wides in size twelve?" I was chatting with two other sales associates when a customer approaches us at the front of the women's running shoes aisle. "I am looking for my daughter, who as you can see has a big foot" the obese man says, pointing down to his daughter's feet as she strolls toward us down the aisle. The other two associates explain that a twelve two e is not available in many styles. I feel that I have a goofy expression on my face from flirting with my coworkers and it is hard to wipe off the smirk right away. I slowly walk away as two people already are helping this family, the other two lead them in the right direction towards the few women's styles in that size. Maybe they'll find a unisex shoe for her in men's I say to myself.

I make my way to the cash wrap and steal a few moments to stare out the window day dreaming. I ring up a few customers. "Think fast" the customer says, picking up a pair of socks and pretending to throw them at me from behind the counter. The family is ready to make the purchase. It took me a moment to realize he was playing with me, and Rob says "this one is not so good at that, a good thinker, but not a fast one". Thanks Rob. "How many fingers am I holding up" customer dude says to me, holding up his five fat fingers. I jokingly hesitate and squint my eyes staring at his hand, Rob is standing behind him "helping me" by holding up his own five fingers. "give me a minute...uhm four?" The customer dude is like "are you in school now?" "did you go to college locally?" In a more serious tone this time. I shake my head "no". "did you finish, get your degree?" "actually yes" I nod. "did you get anything out of it? you are working retail. was it a good use of your parent's money?" Am I really discussing this here? "I got debt out of it. That's what. it was a good investment." I turn away and continue staring out the window. He says he is just playing around. Good to know.

As he leaves I just stare at them walking in the parking lot to their station wagon, my head and mouth full of obscenities. I turn to Eric "I have a bachelor of arts, I know it is fucking useless."

To stop a short story before it becomes long, I retreated back to the floor to attempt to be useful for the remaining time the store was open. As I am straightening shoes in the women's aisle Eric passes me "it's retail, you deal with assholes. Today was your day." Jajajaja, awww I can't stay mad. Before I know it, the last customers come and go, and it is time to close the store. Eric switches the music and before I know it we last 3 workers are doing our closing duties while listening to salsa music. My mood turns so fast, like a child, the whole day is behind me. I am just happy.