The illustrative story part reminds me of the time I went to a huge mall in Detroit to buy some clothes. I had never shopped there before, so I didn't know what stores I could and couldn't find clothing in. I was about 17 years old, I think, and I was out shopping with my friend Jen, who could buy from the regular racks of the regular stores. I was feeling pretty self-conscious.
I went into one clothing store and started looking around with my usual plan: Find the largest thing the store sells, and try to determine if I can fit into it. If so, refine it from there.
As soon as I walked into the store, the sales guy came right over and said, "Can I help you?" in perhaps a more accosting voice than usual. It caught me off-guard a little, but I assumed it was because we were young and it was an expensive store. I used to get that sometimes. I said that I was looking around for a pair of pants. He asked what size I was. I said that I actually didn't really know. He said he'd measure, and whipped out his tape measure, wrapping it around my waist.
As he matched up the end with the numbers, he let out a little reflexive yelp and actually said aloud, "GOOD GRAVY!!" He then called over the other sales guy: "Paul, you have to come see this!" Paul came over and looked at the number as well, and the two of them had a little laugh. He then took the tape away, and his face got very serious. He said to me in an incredibly dismissive tone, "I don't think that there is anything in this shopping mall for you. You might be able to find something at a specialty store outside the mall." He crossed his arm over his chest and glared until I left the store.
chasethestars
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I went into one clothing store and started looking around with my usual plan: Find the largest thing the store sells, and try to determine if I can fit into it. If so, refine it from there.
As soon as I walked into the store, the sales guy came right over and said, "Can I help you?" in perhaps a more accosting voice than usual. It caught me off-guard a little, but I assumed it was because we were young and it was an expensive store. I used to get that sometimes. I said that I was looking around for a pair of pants. He asked what size I was. I said that I actually didn't really know. He said he'd measure, and whipped out his tape measure, wrapping it around my waist.
As he matched up the end with the numbers, he let out a little reflexive yelp and actually said aloud, "GOOD GRAVY!!" He then called over the other sales guy: "Paul, you have to come see this!" Paul came over and looked at the number as well, and the two of them had a little laugh. He then took the tape away, and his face got very serious. He said to me in an incredibly dismissive tone, "I don't think that there is anything in this shopping mall for you. You might be able to find something at a specialty store outside the mall." He crossed his arm over his chest and glared until I left the store.
I've had similar experiences, though without the extra added fun of the measuring tape.