Pep Talk

At the coffee shop between a customer and the very hyper mildly aspergers-y cashier.

"Hello sir how are you?"
"Not so good but this too shall pass."
"I'm uh...sorry. What's wrong?"
"Oh, work."
"Well caffeine will make it better."
"Right."
"At least for a few hours until you have a caffeine induced headache and are all worn out and can't focus. What can I get for you?"

Comments

[slouching mom]

And thankyouverymuch, Mr. Cashier.

Social skills training. It's key.

[Leah]

AWEsome. If my software engineer husband had to take a stint as a barista, that would be exACTly the kind of thing he'd say.

[Matthew M. F. Miller]

Perhaps this gentleman was spurned by his caffeine-addicted lover prior to arriving at work this morning, and now even the sound of a milk frother sends him into a pit of despair.

I know the sound of frothing milk does crazy things to my emotions.

[Pete Dunn]

Seriously, doof, shut the F up and make me a coffee.

[mel]

Coming out of lurking because this post caused me to examine myself a bit. My son has Asperger's. I bristled at the fact that you used the word to describe the barista. I know that is totally lame, but I did. I totally hate the whole politically correct, can't make a joke about anything crap...so I was surprised at my reaction. I wrote at my blog a bit about my feelings on it. Love your blog. I read, but never comment because I was too lazy to register a typepad account.

My post is here.

[superblondgirl]

Ummm... at least she was trying to be friendly? Right?

[cce]

Having been a lowly server at one point in my life, I can say...don't take it personally. The customer before you probably sparked some sort of ill feeling in the barista that was channeled at you. This is how it works - one impossible client can ruin a good attitude for at least two hours.

[Annie B.]

My son also has Aspergers, and I bristled, too. But after re-reading your post I tried to imagine what he would have done. Probably would have said, "Great. What can I get you." Registering the emotions of others--not exactly high on his checklist of things to do for the day. In fact, I think an Asperger barista would be the ultimate, just churning out the java with no chipper chit-chat.

[BOSSY]

Bossy gets it - this is a Debbie Downer skit, right?

[FlippyO]

I don't see the insulting part. She didn't say he was stupid or make fun of him. To me, it read like she heard a kid who is probably brighter than average say something matter-of-factly that came off sounding slightly odd. When I see Asperger's mentioned, I don't see "idiot", why are those of you with kids with Asperger's reading it that way?