Unfiltered Story
#162040
CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS, PHARMACY, USA | UNFILTERED | SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
(I’m the customer in this story, sadly enough. I’m a student at a state college and I have to walk seven-ish blocks to a big-chain drugstore in town to get my prescriptions filled, as two of them can’t be filled at the school pharmacy. On the way to the pharmacy at the back, I stop and grab a drink.
Me: “Hi! I have a prescription to fill, and I’d also like to pay for this before I forget.” (I hand the pharmacist my drink, which I’ve finished half of.)
Pharmacist: “Fine by me! That’ll be [total].”
(It’s only when I reach into my purse that I realize it’s quite a bit lighter than it usually is.)
Me: “Oh, ****.”
(I dig around for several minutes, trying to find some loose change, but I come up empty-handed.)
Me: “****, I left my wallet in my dorm… I am SO sorry!”
(The only person in line behind me reaches into his pocket.)
Other Customer: “How much is it?”
Pharmacist: “No need, sir. I’ll get my manager, see what we can do.”
(She calls up her manager.)
Manager: “I’ll cover the cost. I could technically have you arrested for theft, but I’m going to be nice and let you off easy. Don’t consume anything until you know you can pay for it from now on, okay?”
Me: “Thank you so much!”
(I sit down and wait for my prescription to be filled. Eventually the pharmacist emerges instead of calling my name.)
Pharmacist: “Okay, your prescription is ready…but it’s [cost].”
(My heart sinks, but I smile.)
Me: “That’s all right. Can you hold it for me? It may take me about [time] to get back.”
Pharmacist: “Of course.”
(I walk the seven or so blocks to my dorm and back, now with my wallet. Thirsty again, I grab another drink but make a point of not opening it.)
Me: “Hi, I have a prescription ready to pick up under [My Name], and could you ring this up twice, please?”
(The manager tried to insist that he’d cover the cost, but I was more than happy to buy two drinks for the cost of a drink and a half.)