FIRE!

(based on true events, but names have been changed)

Zzzzzrap! Huh? What was that? I snap out of the daze that I often drift into while doing the mundane work of a cashier. Not being able to identify the source of the noise, I take the customer's discount card and wave it in front of the scanner until I hear the familiar beep. I sigh, because I still have about 4 hours left of work and I am already tired. But something catches my attention. What is that funny smell? Oh my God! There is smoke coming out of my register. I switch the light in front of my register to flash, to signal my supervisor that I need help. Meanwhile, I continue to ring up this lady's order. The register is still working after all.

Luke comes over, key in hand, ready to override the discount, the usual reason that I require his assistance. Looking at the screen, he realizes that this is not what I need.

"What's going on?"

"Oh, nothing, just SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF THE REGISTER!" I exclaim.

"What the --? Oh My God, you're right."

He instructs me to finish this order and he shoos the other customers out of my line, telling them that the register is out of order. He gets on the phone to his supervisor, because he doesn't know what to do about this either. He is just starting to explain the situation when a detector picks up the smoke from the register and the sprinklers are activated. Everyone grabs something to cover their heads as they make for the nearest exit. Customers leave their carts and cashiers leave their registers mid-transaction, everyone making their way to the exit while Luke is trying to restore order. No one is listening to him, and he looks at me for help. I shrug and walk casually to the door.

The air outside is very cold, but no one wants to risk the heat of the fire that may be at work inside the store. A customer calls 911, and before we know it, fire engines are pulling into the parking lot. Laughing to myself, I watch the firemen prepare to fight the fire. Before they can start, the manager walks in front of the crowd with a megaphone.

"There is no fire in the store, a bit of smoke set the alarm off," he explains. "The water from the sprinklers will be cleaned up and the store will reopen tomorrow. He sends the cashiers home, giving us the rest of the day off. I have to say, this has probably been the most interesting day of work I have ever had.

(based on true events, but names have been changed)

Zzzzzrap! Huh? What was that? I snap out of the daze that I often drift into while doing the mundane work of a cashier. Not being able to identify the source of the noise, I take the customer's discount card and wave it in front of the scanner until I hear the familiar beep. I sigh, because I still have about 4 hours left of work and I am already tired. But something catches my attention. What is that funny smell? Oh my God! There is smoke coming out of my register. I switch the light in front of my register to flash, to signal my supervisor that I need help. Meanwhile, I continue to ring up this lady's order. The register is still working after all.

Luke comes over, key in hand, ready to override the discount, the usual reason that I require his assistance. Looking at the screen, he realizes that this is not what I need.

"What's going on?"

"Oh, nothing, just SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF THE REGISTER!" I exclaim.

"What the --? Oh My God, you're right."

He instructs me to finish this order and he shoos the other customers out of my line, telling them that the register is out of order. He gets on the phone to his supervisor, because he doesn't know what to do about this either. He is just starting to explain the situation when a detector picks up the smoke from the register and the sprinklers are activated. Everyone grabs something to cover their heads as they make for the nearest exit. Customers leave their carts and cashiers leave their registers mid-transaction, everyone making their way to the exit while Luke is trying to restore order. No one is listening to him, and he looks at me for help. I shrug and walk casually to the door.

The air outside is very cold, but no one wants to risk the heat of the fire that may be at work inside the store. A customer calls 911, and before we know it, fire engines are pulling into the parking lot. Laughing to myself, I watch the firemen prepare to fight the fire. Before they can start, the manager walks in front of the crowd with a megaphone.

"There is no fire in the store, a bit of smoke set the alarm off," he explains. "The water from the sprinklers will be cleaned up and the store will reopen tomorrow. He sends the cashiers home, giving us the rest of the day off. I have to say, this has probably been the most interesting day of work I have ever had.