Adventures in pet store retail:
My first day I knew that my trainer, who is nice but very talkative, was diabetic, on her period, and a recovering alcoholic, all within just 30 minutes.
In a failed attempt at small talk with a customer, I scanned their cat litter and simply said, "Cats."
A chihuahua or something was put on the checkout counter, and after I petted her a bit, she put her teeny tiny paw in my hand to shake.
A pair of teenage twin boys came in with a two-day-old kitten they found in their attic, and spent half an hour learning how to take care of it. The next day they came in to buy more formula and another nursing bottle, because their dog had gotten into the formula they bought the day before, and also they found the kitten's sibling.
A cat in a special cat backpack.
I'm not very good at catching crickets to sell to customers with reptiles. The lid of the cricket cage fell on my head.
I hate using the intercom.
My manager sings along or whistles with all of the music played in the store. He seems to know all the words.
I work with a very motivated 17- or 18-year old who is working towards an associate's degree while still in high school because he wants to be a marine biologist, so I had to tell him about the meme:
A customer told me I "seem brighter than just working at a pet store," and asked me what I used to do. I didn't tell him he was being insulting, but I did give him my proofreading business card.
A kid signed up for our member rewards program (he was translating for his mom so he put the account in his name), and when he told me his email address, "noits[name]@gmail" and I laughed, he said, "I know, it's kinda cringe."
I asked a mom of two kids if she wanted her receipt and she said no, but her son said, "I want MY receipt" so I gave it to him, and then when he reached the automatic doors he turned around to face me and shouted, "I LOVE YOUR STORE!"
I work with at least one anti-vaxxer.
A customer who thought he was funny (said he did stand-up, in fact) asked if I was wearing a mask so I could make faces at him without him knowing, so I said, "Yeah, I've actually been cursing you out this whole time" and he laughed. After he left one of my coworkers said something about liking certain comedians, and I said, "Maybe if one comes in I'll laugh" and she laughed because, yeah, that guy wasn't telling any new or particularly good jokes.
My towel-folding skills from the yoga studio came in handy.
My retail skills from the bookstore I worked at 10 plus years ago came back.
My trainer said I was doing really well on my first day.
The motivated marine biologist teenager said, "This is your first day? You're really good." And that meant a lot, because he wasn't training me and had no motive to compliment me.
A manager (who sadly went to manage another store) told me on my fourth day that I was doing really well, and she wouldn't be surprised if I was made shift leader before too long.
A bulldog lay flat on the floor yesterday while his owner was checking out, and was very reluctant to get up off of the cool tile when it was time for him to go.
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Daminette December 2023: 16-Pet Store
Marinette thanked the kwamis for giving her an advantages around animals. She had moved to Gotham and was working part time at a pet store. Her new apartment still didn't allow animals, but she could still play with them.
Marinette looked up from her desk as an owner and his dog walked up to the counter.
"This is Titus." the boy announced.
"I can take him from here." Mari spoke.
"I insist that I take him to the back." he stated, "You look new. Titus has specific taste."
Marinette rolled her eyes and grabbed the leash out of his hand.
"Come on, Titus." she smiled, "Think you can prove your owner wrong and go by yourself like a good boy?"
Marinette turned and Titus willingly walked along side her to the back. Neither saw Damian's shocked expression. Damian had trained Titus himself. He knew Titus wouldn't trust anyone so easily.
'Something is wrong here.'
When Damian returned, his anger only grew. The same girl had brought Titus back out for him. Titus stood towering over her and licked her cheek. She had smiled and reached behind the counter and handed him a sealed dog biscuit shaped like a bone.
"The ingredients are written down on the back." the girl declared.
Damian turned it over and sure enough there was a sticker on the back.
"The font is misleading." Damian spoke, "It appears to be handwritten."
"It is." Marinette replied, "I made them. I make all the treats."
Damian looked at it again and shoved the treat in his pocket.
"Titus. Come." He spoke.
Titus followed obediently.
'I'll just run analysis on this and see what kind of underground network she is apart of.'
Damian had found no hidden agenda through the biscuit. All ingredients were perfectly healthy for Titus or any dog. He had handed it over to Titus in disappointment. Titus ate it happily.
'Traitor, but I know who won't betray me.'
Oh how wrong he was. Marinette carried a happily purring Alfred the cat in her arms.
'I should bring Goliath. She'd likely be frightened. I would win and she would no longer have power over my pets. I could do that, but then Father would be upset. He already doesn't like Goliath and finds him to be dangerous. This would only further his thinking.'
"Cupcake!" a voice shouted from behind him.
"Uncle Jagged!" Marinette smiled, placing Alfred in his carrier.
Damian turned to see Jagged Stone and his famous pet crocodile walk in. He watched in surprise as she disregarded the reptile and hugged the Rockstar. After, she turned towards the croc. Damian was ready to pull her away, but the croc rolled over and she scratched his stomach as if it as a dog. He was speechless.
'Maybe bringing Goliath would be a mistake. I need to learn her secrets.'
Marinette looked at Damian as he handed over his resume.
"You don't need the money." She spoke, "So why?"
"I prefer animals to human company." He answered honestly.
Mari smiled, "I say anyone who doesn't is a liar."
Marinette turned away and took the resume to the back. Damian realized he had smirked when she left. He quickly brought him emotions under control.
"I don't think there would be a problem, but I'm sure my boss would want to cover her ass, if you somehow got hurt on the job." She declared, coming back.
"Explain." Damian insisted.
Marinette sighed, "Make sure that if you got injured, while on the job, that she isn't sued by a Wayne."
"I would be fine." he growled out.
"And your father?" she asked.
The Wayne heir sighed, "I think his only concern is that I don't bring more animals home." making her giggle.
'Did I pass?'
Damian was called back to the boss' office. He knew they wanted to know his angle; why he wanted to work there. His siblings ad gone through it before when they got jobs. Damian took out an envelope and slid it over the desk.
"Inside is a viable check worth $10,000." Damian stated, "Pair me with Marinette Dupain-Cheng as my mentor. If I am not paired with her, I'll report the check as fake."
The vet just looked at the signed check and nodded, absent-minded. As Damian went looking for Marinette, he heard the boss call out that they had a quick errand to run.
Damian observed how careful she was with the animals. There were times he thought she was trying to flirt, by acting clumsy, but he quickly learned that wasn't the case. Other workers would ask if she had fallen that day or if she needed a bandaid.
Marinette waved off the concern, "It'll just be another bruise. I probably wouldn't notice. I can't keep count."
If he caught her, she'd say thank you and continue ignoring him. Damian had learned from the other workers that Marinette fixated only on the animals. They invited her many times to hang out or even grab a bite to eat after work. Some offered to pay, but the answer was always no. They had later learned that in the past, Marinette's friends had backstabbed her. As a result, she was friendly at work, but once she was off the clock, she didn't give them a chance to get to know her.
"I would like for you to come to my home." Damian declared.
"No. Thank you." Marinette answered, getting ready to leave for the day.
"I have animals." he spoke.
"I've seen them." She replied, "Titus and Alfred, correct?"
"You haven't seen Jerry or Batcow." he remarked.
Marinette froze as she was tying her shoe.
"As in-" she began.
'Gotcha.'
Damian smirked, "Batcow is an actual cow and just so you are aware, Jerry is a turkey."
He could see her trying to figure out how to answer him. Ignore him or see animals she had never seen before.
"I'd like to see the cow." Marinette whispered, embarrassed, "This doesn't mean were friends, all of a sudden!"
"Of course not." Damian agreed, "Just colleges, who share a love of animals."
Marinette smiled as she walked out the door.
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