I’m not angry so much as weirded out.

I felt like I was in the twilight zone today. I work in a grocery store kiosk, and whoever schedules had the bright idea to not schedule a barista to open, and instead one of the store’s assistant managers that only knows basics. As soon as I get in at 7am it’s just me until noon.

First, there had been no iced coffee made, it was outdated, so I try to quickly do that.
Then, about to do that I notice the AM has had normal drips on 1/2 brew. So I decide to another half Brew, since 1/2 + 1/2 = 1, right?
Wrong. While making a frap at 7:30 am, I notice now the pots are overflowing, since apparently 2 halves make 1.5. The counter is a soupy mess but I drain some coffee for a temporary fix.
Then some guy wants a decaf pour over, nbd he will shop some and come back to get it. While taking other orders, I forget about his, and now his cup is overflowing with decaf at the moment he comes back, so I must transfer it with 3 customers in line. Of course, I manage to pour some of the hot coffee on my hand. At this point I just ignore the pain and carry on.

Things seem to be going okay by 8:30.

But what’s this?
Apparently whoever worked yesterday did not pull pastries from our freezers, because we only have what’s in the case and 2 lemon pound cakes and 1 choc croissant.

Don’t turn the channel now, because wait there’s more! For just one shift, you will also find out that the 3 extra pastries expired yesterday and were never cleaned out! Now we have only what’s in the case of dubitable origin, but we will roll with it.

Fast forward 10am. I’m trying to make a chai and a Green tea lemonade at the same time. The lid to the shaker pops off while I look towards the steaming milk and green tea flies everywhere. Okay, I’m staying calm. Make a new tea, hand off, and execute the chai. As I go to hand over the chai, I now hilariously knock down the original shaker that spilled, blasting ice and tea all over our clean steaming pitchers and counter.

Oh and also in the middle of that transaction I have to answer the phone to be informed of a scam by my manager for 1 minute.

I also make a whip, and as soon as I screw on the canister I hear it hissing out the side and the seal isn’t working apparently. Waste of some perfectly good cream.

By 11am, I only have 2 almond milks and 1/2 a soy milk left in the fridge because someone yesterday also didn’t restock. I’m stressing and hoping no one comes in to order a bunch of soy mochas or something.

Finally at 11:45 my knight in shining armor arrives: a competent coworker!

With 15 minutes to spare before I must go to lunch, I fast walk to the back to pull much needed milks, refreshers, and pastries.

The rest of my shift was fine, but It was the strangest series of unfortunate events ever.

I’m not angry or tired, just dazed. Hopefully it won’t happen in my last week of work before school.

Moral of the story: Stay Calm and Carry On, freaking out won’t help.