at my bookstore job the other day, i was feeling a little out of it. i was on the cash register checking a middle-aged woman out, and she seemed high-strung. she asked me if the card that she was buying was “okay for a ten-year-old;” it was a perfectly normal card that said “wishing you happiness and joy on your birthday” on the inside.
i could tell she was probably just a little anxious so i assured her it was a good card and fine for that age.
and then, wanting to crack a joke to ease her tension, but, critically, also being so utterly uncaffeinated and off-kilter that i forgot i was supposed to be performing friendly customer service and not sahara-dry standup comedy, said to her “now, if it said ‘wishing you hellfire and damnation’ inside it i’d be concerned, but I think this is good” :)
thank god she laughed
