The Da Vinci Code

[Gemini Cricket]

So, I exchanged my tickets for tomorrow night. I have to share a story with y'all.

I called the AMC theatre in advance just a few minutes ago and they told me that it is no problem to exchange tickets. So, I walk in there and this kid (22 yrs old maybe) is at his register on his cellphone. Not a work phone but his own personal phone that lights up, plays music whatever. Then he waves me over. No smile, no courtesy, nothing.

'Can I exchange these tickets for a showing tomorrow night?' I ask.

He stands there, rolls his eyes and exhales deeply. 'Mannn...' he says leaning on his register.

Okay, already I'm ready to blow my top. Not that it takes much sometimes.

So he does a return and gives me a new set of tickets. Then he flings them at me. Seriously, like he was a Vegas card dealer. I stop them from flying off of the counter and I look at them:

***Mission Impossible 3: 8:15pm 05/19/06***

I look at him, smiling. 'Uh, these are for MI3. I need Da Vinci Code, 8:15pm, tomorrow night.

He takes them back doing the same exhale 'Mannn...'

He gives me another set of tickets and calls the next person in line. I don't move. I look at my tickets:

***Over The Hedge, 05/20/06*** (I don't remember the time.)

I look at him smiling again. 'Uh, these are for Over the Hedge. I need Da Vinci Code, 8:15pm, tomorrow night.'

This time he doesn't say anything, doesn't sigh, he gets me another set of tickets.

***Da Vinci Code, 8:15, 05/19/06***

He tries handing them back to me but as he's doing it he realizes that he messed up again.

He finally gives me what I need.

Then he calls the next person in line.

I put my tickets away and said, 'I'm not done. Call your supervisor over here, right now.'

He looks at me. 'What for?'

'Oh, he and I/she and I are going to have a conversation.' I said.

'All of my supervisors are upstairs.' He said.

'Call them down. I'll wait right here.' I said.

He calls.

'She'll be right with you.'

A really, really nice supervisor comes to speak with me. I tell her everything I posted here. Cellphone and all. She's pis sed now. She gives me a coupon for free stuff at the concession stand. 2 drinks, 2 popcorns.

'You know, Ma'am, I need you to take care of this situation. I come here a lot and never receive this kind of treatment. Your employee seems to have issues. I know you don't approve of this kind of behavior and neither would I in a management position. I appreciate you talking to me about this.'

She apologized up and down and was very cool.

Needless to say, the cashier wouldn't look me in the eye again. If he had, he would have fricken turned into stone.