Customer Mocked Me Because I Work as a Cashier at the Grocery Store — Moments Later Karma Took Revenge for Me

Erin’s life changes completely when her husband’s affair is revealed. In a turn of events, she loses her job and takes the role of a cashier at the local grocery store. Everything is fine until an entitled customer comes into the store, forcing Erin to keep calm and professional. My life took a complete turn at 38 years old. I’m a mother to three kids: Emma (15), Jack (9), and Sophie (7), and I’ve gone from being a project manager at a mid-sized tech company while raising my children to working in a grocery store. This is what happened.

The first cracks came in gradually, all stemming from James, my husband.“James, are you coming to bed?” I asked one night as he sat on the couch, staring blankly at the TV. “In a bit,” he muttered, not looking up. “Just need to finish this.” “Finish what? The TV’s off.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair, before lying flat. “Work stuff, Erin. Can we not do this right now?”I could sense something was wrong, but amidst the chaos of work and family, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Then, one devastating evening, I discovered the truth. James had been having an affair.“How could you do this to us?” I cried, tears streaming down my face. “To the kids?” James looked down, unable to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry, Erin.

I never meant for it to get this far.” The stress from the divorce piled onto the already immense pressure at work. My job’s demands became unbearable as I tried to navigate the emotional wreckage of my home. The focus and sharpness I once prided myself on were slipping away, and I struggled to keep up with the relentless pace of my job. “Erin, I need those reports by the end of the day,” my manager, Lisa, reminded me gently. “I know things are tough right now, but we need to stay on track.” “I’m trying, Lisa,” I replied, my voice shaky. “It’s just… everything is falling apart.” And it all became too much.

Lisa, though sympathetic to my situation, was left with no choice when my productivity plummeted. “Erin, we have to let you go,” Lisa said, her eyes full of regret. “I tried to keep you, but my hands were tied on this one. I’m so sorry.”Losing my job felt like the final blow in a series of relentless hardships. The financial strain only added to the emotional burden of my divorce. I knew that I had to find another job quickly to support my children, but the job market was tough, and positions that matched my qualifications and previous salary were few and far between. “Will we be okay?” Emma asked me one morning as I buttered toast for her and her siblings. “We will,” I said. “We will be just fine. I have an interview today, and it’s going to be the right match for us. I promise, darling. Don’t you worry about us.” “But I am worried, Mom,” Emma said, taking a bite of toast. “I don’t want to live with Dad.” My heart ached. I couldn’t let them down. Desperation led me to apply for a cashier position at a local grocery store. “Look, I know it’s not what you’re used to, Erin,” the manager, Mr. Adams, told me. “But this job is stable. We can offer you stability and a steady income.” “I know,” I agreed. “It’s just that I have three children to care for, too.”“I understand,” he said. “We can look at a raise in three months.” The change was difficult, but it allowed me to be there for my children in a way that I hadn’t been able to before. The predictable hours meant I could attend school events, help with homework, and tuck my kids into bed every night. “I like this, Mom,” Sophie said as I tucked her into bed. “You’re not always with your laptop.” “I agree,” Jack said from his corner of the room. “Mom’s always here now.” But as always, despite things seeming positive in one way, life was always going to throw curveballs my way. Yesterday was different. A mother with two teenage children came into our supermarket. She was dressed in expensive designer clothes, as were her two children. When she came to the register, I started ringing up her groceries in an autopilot mode. I was tired and just wanted the day to be over. I wanted to get home for pizza night with my kids. “What’s with the face, dear? Why aren’t you smiling at your customers?” she asked me, tapping her long nails on the counter.I had been working all day and I had forgotten to plaster a smile across my face. “I’m sorry,” I said to her, taking things out of the cart. Then I smiled at her and continued to do my job.