So today I went into work expecting it be a normal Saturday (bc of course that’s what you do right?) and it was its normal bit of crazy for the first hour or so.

But then a sketchy man walked in and I could tell that something was up when he grabbed a lunch box from the RTDE case and tried hiding it while ordering a cup of ice water. I ask him politely if he intends on paying for it and he ignores me.

He then proceeds to walk to the handoff counter to get his water and catching on, my partner asks him the same question. This time he says flat out “No I don’t.” Well gotta appreciate his honesty right?

So I go to use the restroom and he is about to leave but then he starts shouting at everyone and then yelling homophobic and transphobic slurs, purportedly at me as I’m about to use the restroom. I freeze, not knowing if I should leave or stay, because he then runs towards me and stops short of hitting me before yelling his way out of the store.

By now both my SSVs run out to size up the situation and make phone calls as this qualifies as another situation requiring an incident report.

We end up closing the store for a good hour or so. SM and DM call everyone to check in and see if everyone’s ok. And then police stop by and file a report since it’s bad enough to be considered a hate crime.

I brush it off somewhat because by now I am used to bad behavior from the indigent people who prowl around the area. But I shouldn’t have to. We shouldn’t have to tolerate abhorrent behavior from anyone.

And yet, I didn’t feel safe. I don’t want to have to come into work and prepare to be harassed and threatened by people who feel empowered or entitled to pick on me or my partners.

I want to like this job. But the nature of this job with all the health mandates, homeless population, and petty theft… on top of ‘making the moment right’ and creating that ‘third place’… it just wears on you.

All of you fellow baristas are like family to me. You chose to wear that green apron every day and behind that mask a pained smile. You don’t have to. But you do it anyway. If anything, this job teaches you more about yourself than anything.

Thanks for reading this. 💜