can you hear me now?

i signed in at verizon yesterday around 5:15 and knew i'd be a bit before i received help. it's always the way -- i was second on the sign-in sheet.

a couple walked in right after me and the greeter said hello to them and asked if he could be of assistance? my hackles went up a tiny bit as he didn't even so much as look at the sheet or acknowledge my being there; but moreso, the gent who was one name ahead of me took a major offense. he made no bones about being ignored and was ushered (quickly) to tech services. i was ushered to tech services right after.

beligerent customer, who was about 65/70 years of age, made certain everyone in line and behind the counter knew he had been ignored out front and it was obvious he no longer wished to be invisible. he was the kind of person that when he spoke, you looked everywhere but his direction: his voice, while unknown whether or not to be true, could probably cut through fog.

it was his turn, and i was up right beside him. the poor hapless fellow behind the counter intimated he (hereinafter *belig*) was responsible for the car charger not working as he wasn't putting it on charge and taking it off charge in the proper manner (squeezing the buttons on the side of the charger and inserting it into said phone). when he pulled the charger out, it brought the insides of the phone out with it and he was unable to charge in the car.

this did not go over well.

belig decided it was time to throw down some good curse words, ones i cannot and will not repeat hear and on his way to get his manager, called the customer service rep a "stupid b*stard." ouch. i couldn't believe it and being one to make facial expressions that belie my silence, i started praying the prayer julie taught me: Lord have mercy on me and bless him.

talk about looking everywhere but to my immediate right! the manager came over, spoke to him very professionally, and attempted to make it right. it wasn't easy, it wasn't perfect, but they were trying to come up with a solultion. belig wasn't a happy camper, to say the least.

then i thought: he's frustrated, he's lacking social graces, and is letting this whole incident from start to finish get the better of him. the scripture "a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (proverbs 15:1) also came to mind. i heard him muttering about taking the battery off the back when i turned to him, put my hand on his arm and said "we must love our cell phone. be gentle with our cell phone..." and smiled at him. i asked if i could show him an easy way to get the battery off and he obliged me, remarked at how simple it was and i told him i also put my phone on the charger, battery and all, but if they are suggesting to put the batter in the charger by itself, i'd go with it and see how it worked out..."

he calmed down, apologized to the rep and on his way by me to the door, said "thank you, dear" and put his hand on my shoulder.

remember my post on 15 minutes? the verizon people said "how did you do that?" i honestly have no idea - it wasn't me, if you can believe that.

all the man was saying really was "can you hear me now?"