Nervousness is Not Picky on Who It Chooses to Haunt.

I finally got a part-time job and being the new kid on the block is not easy, especially in retail. Stepping up to the plate in my all black outfit, I couldn't help to get the smile off my face. My face was like stone and not because I was happy to be there. The fact that I couldn't yank this smile away even with a crowbar was due to compounded nervousness. Although my demeanor was extremely friendly and polite, most of these customers seemed distant and judgmental. Of course, the cash register didn't make things better. When ever there was a problem with this machine, the roll of the eyes usually happened on cue. Every time, I felt like I wanted to tie a white blindfold around my eyes, puff on a cigarette and say, "C'est la vie!"

But then I started thinking. Am I the only nervous one here? For one, these people are awfully quiet? How many of us really as customers feel like talking to the cashier when making a purchase? As a society in the U.S., personal space and time are greatly emphasized. Maybe the customer just didn't want to talk because of such a reason. At the register, all I wanted to do was get things done short and sweet so these people can go home to their families. As a customer, I usually feel the same.

So that's when I started to speak to my customers about things like the weather, Christmas shopping, kids, the economy, etc. It really made a difference. One lady was quite sweet saying, "If we had more cashiers like you, there wouldn't be many grumpy people out there." In one case, it even helped to calm a person down.

After facing four people that really woke up on the wrong, hard and bad side of the bed that morning, one woman came to my register with two Internet and one in-store return. It looked like her blow dryer got the best of her as her blonde hair stood up on one side. In her hand was a pink, puffy kids jacket and a unzipped black leather purse exposing a plethora of papers. As I tried to work her returns, I hit a problem with the machine and had to call our manager. Instead of chewing me out or whining like most customers, this very troubled lady repeatedly apologize to me for the inconvenience. "I'm sorry this is happening on your third day," the lady said. "I didn't mean to make it this difficult, but I really need to get this done," she said. Every time I tried to assure her everything was going to be OK and she thanked me for being so patient. We talked about some of her plans for the day and the weather. She was finally calm. That is until a little girl came walking up to us with one of the managers. I can still remember it. "Is this your Mommy?" the manager said. "I found her in my office," she said. I thought this poor woman was going faint. Mommy and daughter were reunited though.....for about 45 seconds. As I was helping the next customer, the little girl came running pass my counter yelling, "No coat!" Running after her was the woman, with hair on end shouting, "But Honey, you have to listen to Mommy!"

Despite that episode, that little serenity between both of us was not only refreshing to me, but most likely to this woman. I think if she didn't have that little peace of mind, she probably would have collapsed while walking up to my counter. She probably wouldn't have the energy to chase this little terror through Macy's to get home in time to make dinner for her family.

In the end, I thought retail was going to swallow me alive. Now that I see most of my customers feel the same way as they put up their swords and shields or fumble with their receipts, I don't feel too bad.

© Laura Lynn Miller Productions Inc.