Retail

Them,
With their scrunched-up red faces,
Angry, always angry.
Throwing coupons on the counter
Like a grenade, blowing up
In their own spiteful faces.
Sorry sir, this can’t be used on sale items.
Thunder booms with these words,
Eyes sharp as daggers.
This item isn’t on sale,
It didn’t say so on the tag,
This is false advertisement,
They huff and puff, and
Turn purpley-blue
As they spit on my face
I want to see a manager.

Beep. Beep. Beep.
How are you today?
Good, how are you?
I can smell the lie,
Or perhaps it’s the way
Their face muscles are set
In a permanent frown that
I know they are truly miserable.
I’m just great.
I lie in turn through clenched teeth
Set permanently in a false, yet convincingly
Agonizing smile
Which I’ve been wearing for hours
Despite my boredom/anger/annoyance.
No one can tell, or cares to notice
How horribly my cheeks sting.
Fake.

They
Complain whenever possible,
Yell if given the opportunity,
Demanding discounts, lower prices, special treatment.
I want to see a manger!
With immense emotional strength,
I hold back how I really feel…
(You fucking bitch just pay the set price
Like a normal fucking human being
And get the fuck away from me.)
All this rage for a meager weeks pay.
Welcome to hell,
Full of ignorant idiots and assholes.
Welcome to the world of
Retail.