Dear boy’s name,
I’m sorry you’re a girl and your parents decided to saddle you with a boy’s name. Sucks to be you. You are in your early twenties and should have come to terms with your uniqueness by now. Plus, more than one of my co-workers thinks your name is cute and better as a girl’s name. So, I really don’t feel bad for you.
I’m not sorry I asked you for your ID, your credit card was unsigned and it’s store policy. Usually people thank me, not signing is their way of saying please check my ID. It would be more helpful if they just wrote that in the signature line, but this isn’t about them. It’s about you.
I am sorry I asked you if the card was yours. You were so reluctant and slow about getting out your license, the question just came out. Usually when a woman with a credit card bearing a man’s name is hesitant to take out her ID, the card belongs to her husband. When that is the case we aren’t supposed to use the card for the sale unless the card holder is present. So I asked if it was yours in case you would have to get out a different card while you were already digging around in your purse. I really was trying to help.
But you took it as an affront.
“Yes,” you snapped, whisking out your ID. “I get asked that all the time.” Then you heaved a sigh and complained about your parents giving you a name commonly reserved for a boy.
“Sometimes I think if I’m indignant enough people won’t ask me for an ID,” you said and looked at me with your eyebrows raised. Good luck with that, I thought as I handed you back your license. Clearly it isn’t working. I had already said I was sorry during the transaction. Being indignant wasn’t going to make me feel bad for your plight. Change your name if you’re tired of the questioning looks. At the very least change the name on your credit cards. I had a customer who had gotten “Prof” put in front of his name on his card. You could easily get one with your first initial instead of your entire first (boy’s) name.
If you keep up the indignation, you’ll have a long life ahead of you. And James doesn’t want you to let other people get to you. He thinks it’s bad for your health.
Sincerely,
Kelly
