Keep your cool

Dan blinked and just stared at the woman who'd insulted him. He'd become fairly numb to most insults thrown his way, but this one seemed to strike home a little more than he was willing to admit.

"I can wait," the shy lady muttered as she too stared at the woman beside her.

"Well? I know you're slow, but come on!"

"Thank you, ma'am," Dan got out as he hit the suspend button on the register. A small slip printed out, and as he reached for it, a slim hand ripped it out of the printer. Kristy shot him a pained smile as she collected the small pile of panties.

"Let me get your things," Dan said without looking at the angry woman in front of him. He turned to collect the large pile of clothes behind the counter from earlier.

"Hurry up, I've wasted all day already!"

Without smiling, Dan took the receipt and began the arduous process of returning over twenty articles of clothing. As he keyed in the numbers into the register, the woman kept up a string of acidic comments about his general usefulness in the world as she saw it.

"Is there a problem here?" Ms. Carmen asked in a frosty tone.

"Your employee is taking forever and wouldn't help me immediately!"

"I'm told you cut in front of other customers. Ma'am, that simply will not do. Then you decided to berate and belittle my employee. After this transaction is over, I will have to ask you to leave the premises and not return."

"You can't do that! You don't have the authority," the customer screeched. Dan wondered if glass might have shattered somewhere as he rubbed the inside of his ear.

"I can, and will. You have made a nuisance of yourself."

"I'll speak to your boss, you imported wench."

Dan did his best to keep a straight face. He wasn't completely sure he was successful because Ms. Carmen shot him a withering look.

"I will call the police if you continue causing a scene."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"I most assuredly will, now, will you remain calm as my employee does his best to return your items, or will a constable be needed to ensure my store is a safe place to shop?"

Dan did his best to ring everything up as fast as he could. The quicker the customer was gone, the happier he'd be. Five minutes later, he was done and passed the return receipt and gift card across the counter to the woman.

It took all his effort not to smile as Ms. Carmen escorted the customer out of the store. "Next," he called even as a tall, angry-faced man stepped up to the counter.

The rest of the shift went by much faster than he'd expected. Dan got his last break and didn't see his boss until just before he clocked out for the day.

"A moment, if you will, Dan," Ms. Carmen called from the door to her office.