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I have mentioned on here the issue with parents collecting confiscated items from the office. The problem is that as soon as I start my shift, all the staff that can get into the safe where the confiscated stuff is kept go home. So if someone turns up wanting something, well, tough. They have to wait until the morning.
A parent and his daughter came in. The parent looked…well the only word I can use is scary! He looked like your stereotypical prisoner. I will call him SP.
SP: My daughters phone was taken off her today. I want it back.
Me: Oh, I’m sorry, but all the office staff have gone home…
I could see his face fill with rage in an instant. I attempted to calm him.
Me: …but I will just make a phone call to see if there is anyone still around who can get it.
I made a call to a deputy head. They said there was no one in that could get the phone, and they would have to get it in the morning. She also stated that this was the fourth time in a couple of weeks that this girl had had a phone confiscated, so she didn’t have much sympathy for her.
I went back to SP.
Me: I’m very sorry, but there is no way I can get the phone. It is locked away and I do not have access to the safe and everyone else has gone home for the day.
I could see his face getting redder and redder.
SP: YOU WILL GET ME THAT FUCKING PHONE RIGHT NOW OR I WILL JUMP OVER THIS FUCKING DESK AND BEAT YOUR FUCKING SMUG FACE INTO A FUCKING PULP!
Did I mention that the reception area was full of children and parents? Some as young as four years old! Several parents immediately gasped and started to cover their kids ears. Others expressed disgust.
I could not think of what to say except “Excuse me?!”
SP: I’M GOING TO FUCKING PUMMEL YOU!
Me: I’m phoning the police.
Daughter grabbed her dad.
D: Dad, come on, let’s go. Come on dad.
SP: YOU FUCKING CUNT! YOU’RE A CUNT!
She dragged him out. Yeah, that looked good. A thirteen year old girl dragging her insane father out. He left with her though, and the reception area was left with a deadly silence. I stood there for about a minute, chewing on my hand wondering what to do. It was so different from being at the pub. If a customer at the pub had spoken to me like that, I would have used similar language back at him, or got the doormen to see to him. I was left with neither, and I had children to consider.
I sat down and called the police. After that, I sent several e-mails to every senior member of staff, notifying them of the incident. I was very, very shaken for some reason. I mean, I dealt with that kind of stuff on a daily basis of the pub, but this behaviour had completely shocked me.
After getting an e-mail, one of the deputy heads immediately ran downstairs to see that I was OK. The police turned up pretty quickly as well and took a statement. SP really didn’t plan very much before he went nuts, did he? I mean, I knew his daughter’s name, so all I had to do was look her up on the system and find all of his contact details! One of the police officers turned to me.
PO: Can we have the phone?
Me: Oh well, I don’t have access to the safe. That was the problem in the first place.
DH: I may have a number for one of the office staff! I will call them.
DH made the call, and we got the code for the safe. We handed it over.
PO: We’ll keep that! And we will pay Mr. SP a visit. And if his attitude hasn’t improved, then I think a night in a cold cell will do, won’t it?
Me: And what about if he returns in the future?
DH: I want him banned from this school.
PO: That’s fine. We will put that in place. If you seen him set foot in your car park, call us.
The police left. The next thing I knew, I was being surrounded by random members of staff. People I hadn’t even told about the incident! It had only been half an hour, and the whole school knew. They arrived, armed with chocolate, sandwiches and hot drinks, and started hugging me! A co-worker spoke up.
CW: Go home customersruinmylife, I will do your shift.
Me: No, really, I’m fine.
CW: No, what happened to you was one of the worst things I’ve ever heard. I want to volunteer and do your shift.
Me: No, seriously, it’s OK. Thanks a lot, but I’m OK.
CW: Are you absolutely sure?
Me: I am.
I couldn’t believe it! I’ve never had co-workers who were so…caring! It brought a tear to my eye.
You may ask “Well, if DH had the number for someone all along, why didn’t they just do that when I called them earlier?” Well, the answer to that is that we don’t expect parents in a school of all places, to go ape-shit when they are told no. Most parents when told they cannot have something back until the morning turn to their child and say “Oh well, that will serve you right for getting it confiscated in the first place!” Plus, why should be bother someone at home for someone who was stupid enough to get caught on their phone in class?
What was most worrying about this tale is that the police seemed to be completely aware of who I was talking about. I didn’t even have to give a description of the man, and they didn’t ask to review the footage. They knew exactly who he was just from the name. Which says it all really.
A parent and his daughter came in. The parent looked…well the only word I can use is scary! He looked like your stereotypical prisoner. I will call him SP.
SP: My daughters phone was taken off her today. I want it back.
Me: Oh, I’m sorry, but all the office staff have gone home…
I could see his face fill with rage in an instant. I attempted to calm him.
Me: …but I will just make a phone call to see if there is anyone still around who can get it.
I made a call to a deputy head. They said there was no one in that could get the phone, and they would have to get it in the morning. She also stated that this was the fourth time in a couple of weeks that this girl had had a phone confiscated, so she didn’t have much sympathy for her.
I went back to SP.
Me: I’m very sorry, but there is no way I can get the phone. It is locked away and I do not have access to the safe and everyone else has gone home for the day.
I could see his face getting redder and redder.
SP: YOU WILL GET ME THAT FUCKING PHONE RIGHT NOW OR I WILL JUMP OVER THIS FUCKING DESK AND BEAT YOUR FUCKING SMUG FACE INTO A FUCKING PULP!
Did I mention that the reception area was full of children and parents? Some as young as four years old! Several parents immediately gasped and started to cover their kids ears. Others expressed disgust.
I could not think of what to say except “Excuse me?!”
SP: I’M GOING TO FUCKING PUMMEL YOU!
Me: I’m phoning the police.
Daughter grabbed her dad.
D: Dad, come on, let’s go. Come on dad.
SP: YOU FUCKING CUNT! YOU’RE A CUNT!
She dragged him out. Yeah, that looked good. A thirteen year old girl dragging her insane father out. He left with her though, and the reception area was left with a deadly silence. I stood there for about a minute, chewing on my hand wondering what to do. It was so different from being at the pub. If a customer at the pub had spoken to me like that, I would have used similar language back at him, or got the doormen to see to him. I was left with neither, and I had children to consider.
I sat down and called the police. After that, I sent several e-mails to every senior member of staff, notifying them of the incident. I was very, very shaken for some reason. I mean, I dealt with that kind of stuff on a daily basis of the pub, but this behaviour had completely shocked me.
After getting an e-mail, one of the deputy heads immediately ran downstairs to see that I was OK. The police turned up pretty quickly as well and took a statement. SP really didn’t plan very much before he went nuts, did he? I mean, I knew his daughter’s name, so all I had to do was look her up on the system and find all of his contact details! One of the police officers turned to me.
PO: Can we have the phone?
Me: Oh well, I don’t have access to the safe. That was the problem in the first place.
DH: I may have a number for one of the office staff! I will call them.
DH made the call, and we got the code for the safe. We handed it over.
PO: We’ll keep that! And we will pay Mr. SP a visit. And if his attitude hasn’t improved, then I think a night in a cold cell will do, won’t it?
Me: And what about if he returns in the future?
DH: I want him banned from this school.
PO: That’s fine. We will put that in place. If you seen him set foot in your car park, call us.
The police left. The next thing I knew, I was being surrounded by random members of staff. People I hadn’t even told about the incident! It had only been half an hour, and the whole school knew. They arrived, armed with chocolate, sandwiches and hot drinks, and started hugging me! A co-worker spoke up.
CW: Go home customersruinmylife, I will do your shift.
Me: No, really, I’m fine.
CW: No, what happened to you was one of the worst things I’ve ever heard. I want to volunteer and do your shift.
Me: No, seriously, it’s OK. Thanks a lot, but I’m OK.
CW: Are you absolutely sure?
Me: I am.
I couldn’t believe it! I’ve never had co-workers who were so…caring! It brought a tear to my eye.
You may ask “Well, if DH had the number for someone all along, why didn’t they just do that when I called them earlier?” Well, the answer to that is that we don’t expect parents in a school of all places, to go ape-shit when they are told no. Most parents when told they cannot have something back until the morning turn to their child and say “Oh well, that will serve you right for getting it confiscated in the first place!” Plus, why should be bother someone at home for someone who was stupid enough to get caught on their phone in class?
What was most worrying about this tale is that the police seemed to be completely aware of who I was talking about. I didn’t even have to give a description of the man, and they didn’t ask to review the footage. They knew exactly who he was just from the name. Which says it all really.
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