MONDAY, 24 MARCH 2025
I was printing material tonight on the 7-Eleven printer in the far corner from the cashier counter, next to the storage room. As I walk to the cashier, I see a large guy standing with his back to me at the counter. Between the shelves that run toward the counter, a woman is standing, waiting to pay. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the large guy motioning to her to go ahead and pay. I assume he’s waiting for food to come out of the microwave. Another man walks in. I figure I have to go stand behind the woman or the new guy will assume that’s where the line is and take a position behind the woman himself. When the woman finished paying, I wait for confirmation from the large guy that he’s either about to pay or that he’s still waiting. No movement from him. The cashier doesn’t say anything either. I step forward, and put my slip from the printer and my NT$12 on the counter.
The next moment the guy goes off – in Chinese. In short: “What the fuck do you think you’re doing… you fucking … It was my turn! Fuck your mother…”
I ignore him. The cashier is startled.
He shouts again. Loudly.
I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say the roof lifted and the refrigerator doors shook in their frames. My ears ring.
Of course, I realize he’s out of his mind, and that the fact that I stepped forward when he thought it was his turn has caused a shitload of emotions to spill out. And now the two-ton load of cow dung is lying on the floor, stinking up the place.
My receipt can’t come fast enough. I expect a fatal attack any moment.
I slip out the door the moment the nervous cashier gives me my receipt.
On the way home I glance over my shoulder me every few meters to make sure I’m not being followed.
Of course, this reminded me of the woman from a few years back when I also had to run for my life when my path unexpectedly crossed with that of an unstable person.
Lesson learned for not the first time in my life: The world is not necessarily full of them, but it’s definitely wise to always be on the lookout for Crazy Bitches and Psycho Muthafuckers. Your life may just depend on it.
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