“Oh… are you guys in line?”
The man says it with mild astonishment, as if he has just discovered a new ritual: adults standing quietly in line beside a register.
He turns, lifts a hand to shield his eyes, and scans the line—then positions himself directly beside the counter. His face turns red.
You’re with your wife, discussing what exactly a Kinder Bar is—whether it’s chocolate, a toy, or some European prank—when his words drift toward you. You turn and see a man you don’t recognize, which is unsettling, because if he had been in line, surely you would have noticed him.
Immediately, your mind empties.
Was this man here?
Have you been wrong before?
Is this how history gets rewritten?
The man inches closer to the register, the way people do when they’re hoping momentum will replace permission.
“Oh yeah… sorry—were all of you in line?” he repeats.
He places a pack of paper plates on the counter and reaches for his wallet, already halfway forgiven in his own mind. You turn to your wife, who got swept up in the excitement.
“Yeah, we were… we—I mean—it looks like you don’t have a lot of items, so I guess—”
Your heart is pounding, and you can’t tell if it’s the natural reaction to being cut or the fact that you’re at the age where you should see your doctor more.
Still, the man who just cut you is pulling out his wallet. Behind him, the cashier finishes up, and the man looks relieved, like he just walked out of a bathroom.
“Oh, that would be great… thank you, thank you,” he says to your wife.
Your stomach tightens, and you look at your wife like she’s crazy. A second later, your hand curls into a fist—not to strike him, but to keep yourself anchored—and you make eye contact. Sustained eye contact. The kind usually reserved for passport photos and arguments with cable companies.
“Or,” you say, “you could just go to the back of the line, since you cut everyone.”
The cashier’s glasses slide off her face.
The man’s expression changes. It isn’t anger exactly—it’s confusion, as though he’s been informed, for the first time, that other people exist.
“Ummm…” he says.
He looks from the register to the line, now visibly longer than he remembered it being moments ago. You don’t break eye contact. You’re learning things about yourself.
“Okay, buddy,” he says finally. “I’ll go back. I didn’t mean anything by that, buddy.”
He gathers his paper plates and walks to the end of the line, smaller now, like someone who has been deflated.
You say, evenly, “It’s okay. I’m sure you weren’t thinking.”
You don’t look back.
When it’s finally your turn, the cashier smiles at you—too calmly, considering what has just occurred—and asks,
“So, did you find everything okay?”
Please like, comment, share and tell me what you think! Based on a true story, last Sunday when was cut in line. Has someone cut you in line? Let me know in the comments.
Great one ❤️
Two markers of your comic style:
A. The simile: “like he just walked out of a bathroom…”
B. Understatement: “So, did you find everything okay.”
Love it! That’s what keeps me laughing. See you next time. 🙂
Thank you so much my friend, you made my morning fun!!
Yes, yes, I’m laughing so hard because I’ve been there! Rule followers unite! Next time this happens to me . . . I’m just going to ask the offender “did you read Tony’s blog post? Maybe you should!” Ha ha, love it.
Yeah send it to them! Although I’m sure line cutters don’t read! Thanks so much for reading my friend!
Line cutters … damn Neanderthals. I bet if we checked, their knuckles probably drag on the ground. Ha ha.
Absolutely! And crayons in their mouth
Oh, you let this play out brilliantly. It sometimes seems easier to allow it until you remember that it impacts everyone in line.
Usually I don’t care but man I hate cutters
This is deliciously uncomfortable in the best way. You captured that split second where politeness, self doubt, and quiet rage all fight for the steering wheel. The inner monologue felt painfully accurate, especially the part where reality itself starts wobbling. I laughed, then nodded, then laughed again. Also, “momentum will replace permission” deserves its own plaque somewhere. We have all met this man. Great pacing, sharp humor, and a very human win at the end 🧾🧍♂️✨
Thank you so so much! I appreciate you!
“as though he’s been informed, for the first time, that other people exist”
I literally LOL’d.
So happy it did, thank you for letting me know!
Good for you. I say that as a citizen of the UK, where it’s a cardinal sin to queue-jump. It is difficult to stand your ground and make them go to the back, but it’s necessary to take a stand rather than give in to avoid a standoff. If the cashier is on the side of right and willing to send them back that’s a great help. Some years ago I joined the ’10 items or less’ queue in a supermarket, and for some reason unknown a woman somewhere behind me took exception to me. ‘There’s more than ten items in there’ she called, pointing at my basket as I lifted it onto the counter. I looked around at her, and the cashier fixed her with a baleful stare as she counted the items out of my basket onto the counter. The queue as one held its breath; what would the final figure be. ‘Eight’, pronounced the stony-faced cashier, holding out her hand for my card all the whilst staring down the troublemaker – who had the grace to look at the floor as every pair of eyes in the queue was fixed on her in less-than-friendly mode. I paid, meeting the eyes of the cashier, who gave me a look with ‘I’ve seen all the BS there is to see’ writ plain in it, and thanked her. But what the hell is it with these people? Thanks for sharing, Tony. Another gem. 🙂
I bet that felt good people get so bent out of shape about that it’s crazy
Isn’t it? And I wasn’t even breaking the rule! 🤪
There you go!
What always catches me by surprise is the totally innocent look or the huge apology but no sign of real regret.
Hahahah oh yeah couldn’t agree more
Another fun moment while working at the airport…
I was working baggage claim at O’Hare in the early 2000’s. Delayed flights… long lines of people filling delayed baggage claims and I have one of those lines in front of me. A lady sidles up to my counter and says “excuse me” (while im helping another hapless soul missing a bag) “can you help me real quick?”
I asked, “are you next in line?” While continuing to fill out the other customers claim.
“Well no, but what I need won’t take long”
I said, “look, my job is to take the next in line. I don’t care who it is. Whoever is next is up to those folks waiting in line. You need to ask them if they mind you being next”
I got a standing ovation for that … oh wait… they were already standing…😂
No idea what the lady did but I’m sure she didn’t cut the line!
That’s amazing! Some line justice!!
Last year, my son and I went to Nashville to be tourists. We went to some country singer restaurant and bar. The line to party for an hour on the roof was nearly to the door, but the table we reserved was ready and waiting.
So we’re going up to the second floor, my son following behind, when a woman sticks out her hand to stop me. “The line is back there,” she said, with a few expletives thrown in for color. I had to explain to her that she was in line for the drinks, not the food. She still wasn’t happy, but she couldn’t really stop me either.
People tend to get upset waiting in long lines. I always try to avoid them.
Great 👏👏
Thank you!
Welcome 👏 Let’s support each other by subscribing to each other’s page 🤝
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Halfway forgiven in his own mind – brilliant observation
Thank you so much! So happy you enjoyed!