You notice a man pulling down a chair from its table, preparing to chow down on his newly-received food. You were pretty sure you told everyone whose orders you took that the dining room was closed due to renovations, but you don't recognize this man. In a flat tone, you say,

"Oh, the dining room is closed."

The man's features form into a scowl, his skin practically glowing white-hot with anger.

"I waited over an hour for a chicken sandwich - just one sandwich, that's it, and it took you over an hour - and you're saying I can't eat here!? Why does it say 'dine in' on my receipt then?"

Your heart sinks. You can just tell this isn't going to be a productive conversation at all, but you are a service worker; it's your job to placate angry customers. You press on, hoping to ease the tension with honesty.

"I don't know why it says 'dine-in' on your receipt, I was just told not to let people eat in the dining room." You can't help but raise your voice just a bit, if only to match the energy this guy is putting out. What a terrible mistake.

You had hoped that your explanation would de-escalate the situation, but it appears to have made everything worse. He informs you his day has not been very good so far, and that he just wanted a chicken sandwich, but you had to be a smart-aleck and say he couldn't eat in the lobby. "Where am I supposed to eat, then?", he concludes. His eyes drill into yours with contempt.

You have never been adept at hiding your indignation before, but all pretense of composure melts completely at the idea that you were mocking him. You enthusiastically state that you weren't trying to be a smart-aleck, but he presses you and emphasizes that he isn't trying to make an argument out of this; in fact, you are the one that keeps trying to argue with him. What pains you the most is that all the other customers in the lobby seem to agree with him, somehow; you have no idea how anyone watching the confrontation could possibly do that. He tells you that you could have just apologized and moved on.

Apologize for what????? You didn't do anything wrong!!!!

Despite this, you really just want this to be over.

"I'm sorry, but-"

"There you go!" He claps for you, and the audience follows suit as the room is engulfed in applause. You can feel rivers forming under your eyes and across your cheeks as you realize that no one is on your side. You were utterly dominated in a debate you weren't trying to have, by a man who wasn't interested in what you were saying, with an audience that was poised against you from the start.

By now one of your managers has arrived to appease the chicken sandwich man, but you don't care. You can't stay here.

You can't go on. You can't face anyone now.

You rush out the back door as calmly as you can, choking back sobs as you desperately cling to whatever dignity you still have left.

The hot, humid air of the night does nothing to lift your spirits. You cry and you cry and you cry, but you never feel better.