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Now... I have an issue at public and at work. More than 70% of the population of people think I am in fact, male. When, genetically, I am female. I know that I am not particularly feminine (which certainly comes to an advantage when I costume as male characters for Halloween), but I hardly think I look that masculine.
Now, here are a series of short gender-bending related stories that range from just plain funny, to frustrating. I felt that this was the best place to put it. Better all together than one at a time.
Double-Take Lady
Okay... so I am working on second cash. We have a long lineup. There's a woman with two children. Now, she doesn't even look at me, and she says:
"Give your toys to the nice lady".
That, in itself, is no issue. It's when she looks at me she jumps.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I mean young man!"
I blink. Smile. "You were right the first time."
By this point she is completely flustered and she's stammering apologies and how she was distracted and how I did look like a boy at an angle and other things really fast. I laugh, tell her it's fine, that I don't mind and ring her though. Then she wished me a nice week and left. Children in tow. I laughed for a few minutes after that.
”Is he coming to our house?”
Sometimes kids have the funniest way of figuring things out. Whether right or wrong. In this case. Wrong. But still funny.
I’m sweeping the floor, and a woman and a small child come in.
SmallC: What is he doing mommy?
M: He’s cleaning honey.
SmallC: Why is he cleaning?
M: Because everyplace has to stay clean. Just like our house does or even this store does.
SmallC: Oh.
*The child things for a moment*
SmallC: Is he coming to our house?
*The mother laughs and tells her no.*
I forgave them for the mistaken gender for just being so gosh-darned cute.
Frustrating Sales-Man (The best for last... plus the most frustrating)
Now... I am at work. And this man comes in. Acting like a normal customer at first. He asks me to help him, calling me a "sir" and "lad" and whatnot. Whatever, at this point, I had been called that so many times that I didn't really care, and I didn't think I'd see him again that I didn't bother to correct him.
Wrong.
Turns out he was then going to go into phase 2. Which involved him coming into the backroom and trying to sell us something. It went something like this.
There are three of us. Strange Customer (SC), Me (who is ‘conveniently’ blocked from leaving the door by this man), and my other coworker (OCW).
SC: Now, we have this great machine that can give you candy. We'll give it to you for free and it'll be full of candy. And of course, you don't have to put money in it, it's just so that you can have some candy.
OCW: I see...
SC: Now, for example say if he wants a chocolate bar.
Now, he is pointing at ME. He doesn't seem to realize after me dealing with him and talking to him that I am in fact, female.
SC: Well then we'd give him a chocolate bar. Since he just seems to be the chocolate bar kinda guy.
OCW: She's a girl.
SC: *Isn't paying attention* Now. What if he doesn't like chocolate bars? What if he wants chips? Well then we'll give the boy chips.
OCW: ...
Me: We'll have to talk to the boss... I mean, we just stock shelves. We have no say…
SC: It’s free. No problem. You just need room for it.
And he goes on like this. Never once realizing that I am female, and that we aren't interested at all. And we try to tell him that we can't say yes. Not even the manager can. It’s up to our boss.
(And It was a bit obvious that they were going to make us pay for re-fills and installation)
OCW leaves, and I'm left with crazy-man.
SC: Hey, buddy, come over here, dude.
Me: *goes over, still holding box.*
SC: Can ya do me a favor, man? Can ya just clear off the table so I can bring in the machine?
Note - We never said yes.
Me: ... *doesn't respond.*
SC: *holds out hand* Gimme high-five, dude.
Me: *for some reason listens and does it.* ... *still rather silent*
SC: See ya later pal.
And he leaves.
It had to be the weirdest experience that I have ever had with a customer. He was trying a bit too hard. And I had mixed feelings after that about that one. I didn't think him excessively not understanding my gender was funny at all. I was starting to wonder at the end of it if I really do look like a boy. And the fact he didn't take a hint was quite frustrating despite what we continually told him.
He never returned.
Durrr. I wonder why.
I have TONS of stories of being mistaken for a boy… Since most people think I am a boy for some reason. But those are the best that I have.
>__>
I just hope that man doesn’t return to try to “sell” us that “free” candy machine again.
Now, here are a series of short gender-bending related stories that range from just plain funny, to frustrating. I felt that this was the best place to put it. Better all together than one at a time.
Double-Take Lady
Okay... so I am working on second cash. We have a long lineup. There's a woman with two children. Now, she doesn't even look at me, and she says:
"Give your toys to the nice lady".
That, in itself, is no issue. It's when she looks at me she jumps.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I mean young man!"
I blink. Smile. "You were right the first time."
By this point she is completely flustered and she's stammering apologies and how she was distracted and how I did look like a boy at an angle and other things really fast. I laugh, tell her it's fine, that I don't mind and ring her though. Then she wished me a nice week and left. Children in tow. I laughed for a few minutes after that.
”Is he coming to our house?”
Sometimes kids have the funniest way of figuring things out. Whether right or wrong. In this case. Wrong. But still funny.
I’m sweeping the floor, and a woman and a small child come in.
SmallC: What is he doing mommy?
M: He’s cleaning honey.
SmallC: Why is he cleaning?
M: Because everyplace has to stay clean. Just like our house does or even this store does.
SmallC: Oh.
*The child things for a moment*
SmallC: Is he coming to our house?
*The mother laughs and tells her no.*
I forgave them for the mistaken gender for just being so gosh-darned cute.
Frustrating Sales-Man (The best for last... plus the most frustrating)
Now... I am at work. And this man comes in. Acting like a normal customer at first. He asks me to help him, calling me a "sir" and "lad" and whatnot. Whatever, at this point, I had been called that so many times that I didn't really care, and I didn't think I'd see him again that I didn't bother to correct him.
Wrong.
Turns out he was then going to go into phase 2. Which involved him coming into the backroom and trying to sell us something. It went something like this.
There are three of us. Strange Customer (SC), Me (who is ‘conveniently’ blocked from leaving the door by this man), and my other coworker (OCW).
SC: Now, we have this great machine that can give you candy. We'll give it to you for free and it'll be full of candy. And of course, you don't have to put money in it, it's just so that you can have some candy.
OCW: I see...
SC: Now, for example say if he wants a chocolate bar.
Now, he is pointing at ME. He doesn't seem to realize after me dealing with him and talking to him that I am in fact, female.
SC: Well then we'd give him a chocolate bar. Since he just seems to be the chocolate bar kinda guy.
OCW: She's a girl.
SC: *Isn't paying attention* Now. What if he doesn't like chocolate bars? What if he wants chips? Well then we'll give the boy chips.
OCW: ...
Me: We'll have to talk to the boss... I mean, we just stock shelves. We have no say…
SC: It’s free. No problem. You just need room for it.
And he goes on like this. Never once realizing that I am female, and that we aren't interested at all. And we try to tell him that we can't say yes. Not even the manager can. It’s up to our boss.
(And It was a bit obvious that they were going to make us pay for re-fills and installation)
OCW leaves, and I'm left with crazy-man.
SC: Hey, buddy, come over here, dude.
Me: *goes over, still holding box.*
SC: Can ya do me a favor, man? Can ya just clear off the table so I can bring in the machine?
Note - We never said yes.
Me: ... *doesn't respond.*
SC: *holds out hand* Gimme high-five, dude.
Me: *for some reason listens and does it.* ... *still rather silent*
SC: See ya later pal.
And he leaves.
It had to be the weirdest experience that I have ever had with a customer. He was trying a bit too hard. And I had mixed feelings after that about that one. I didn't think him excessively not understanding my gender was funny at all. I was starting to wonder at the end of it if I really do look like a boy. And the fact he didn't take a hint was quite frustrating despite what we continually told him.
He never returned.
Durrr. I wonder why.
I have TONS of stories of being mistaken for a boy… Since most people think I am a boy for some reason. But those are the best that I have.
>__>
I just hope that man doesn’t return to try to “sell” us that “free” candy machine again.
*Running away, Running awaaaayyyyy*
). Then a few seconds later it was Mr. Peanut from the Planters Peanuts. 
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