I work part-time at an SF/F specialty store. Once upon a time, in a world before children, I managed it, and I've been there in one capacity or another for a Very Long time.

I did something the other day which, on immediate reflection, surprised me. Three people came into the store; they were in their twenties, two men, and a woman (with very lovely red hair). The young woman asked me for recommendations--and this is the part of the job that I love, and have always loved, because I get to talk about books, and I can do that all day long. Seriously.

So the young woman was thinking about the various recommendations, and one of the young men came up to the counter to buy a book. It was a paperback (which will be relevant in a minute). He paid for the book, then turned to the young woman and said, "It's time to go."

She said, "But I haven't found anything yet."

And he said, "Well, how long does it take?"

So, I leaned over the counter, holding the book for which the customer had paid and I bonked him on the head with it. No, seriously. I bonked a total stranger who had never been in the store before on the head. With his book. Which he had just given me money for. And while I was doing this, I was saying, "Hey! You don't tell someone that they're coming to browse in a bookstore, but they have to leave just because you've found something to read!"

The young woman and the other young man broke out laughing, and the other young man said, "She doesn't even know you and she knows you deserve to be smacked upside the head!"

And then, of course, I realized that I had just hit a total stranger over the head. I think I managed to say "I have younger brothers, sorry >.>."

So... I was relating this with some chagrin to a customer of many years, and he was laughing at me, and at the idea that I was shocked that I had done this. I have never done it before. I mean, not if I don't actually know the customer.

When I pointed this out, he said, "Take a poll of all the people who actually know you and see if any of them are surprised."

So: It is poll time!

Michelle has hit a total stranger on the head with a book that he has just purchased. Not, of course, hard enough to cause any damage to anything other than dignity (hers and his).

Poll #1425569
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 114

You are