“A customer ordered a bowl of soup to go. We were very busy, and currently out of the type of soup she ordered. I told her it would be a significant wait, as it took at least ten minutes to heat up soup. She agreed. Two minutes later, she asked me where her soup was. Two minutes after that, she asked again. I got frustrated and told her we would put it in the microwave. Two minutes later, same deal, she asked, ‘Where’s my soup?’
‘It’s in the microwave, ma’am, but it will take a little longer,’ I pleaded.
‘Make the microwave go faster!’ she shrieked.
Okay. Sure. Why didn’t I think of that sooner?
Well, whatever. I pulled it a little early, and it was still cold, but at this point, I simply did not care. I portioned out her soup and got it ready to serve.
Our to-go soup containers were taller and narrower than the in-house bowls, which were flat and wide; the volume of soup remained consistent between the two containers. I knew this because the portion size was two ladles, regardless of the container.
I brought this customer her soup, and she immediately protested that I didn’t give her enough soup. She didn’t want to pay the same price for less soup, just because she was taking it to go.
I attempted to explain the concept of conservation, which was typically grasped around age seven, to this fully-grown adult woman. She stared at me the entire time with this suspicious look on her face like she thought I was trying to pull a fast one on her.
‘But the bowls in the house are bigger,’ she whined.
Eventually, this fastidious woman took her soup and left. I took a sigh of relief but unfortunately, it only lasted a moment because I was sure you guessed it; the soup lady was back! This incorrigibly stupid woman showed up with the soup in hand…OVER ONE HOUR LATER with a complaint ready to go.
She walked up to the counter and said in an annoyed voice, ‘It’s cold.’
My soul just about left my body in disbelief. No duh, it had been an hour lady and you wouldn’t let us heat it up all the way.
Long story short I don’t work there anymore. My time is too precious.”
