My name is Misty. I’m a manager here.

*

To my Associate who is trying to pay his bills:

I know you’re tired. I can’t call anyone else in tonight. Due to the pandemic, our sales aren’t high enough to have another person on the clock.

I know you and I are the only ones here, but we will have to do the best we can.

I’m sorry I have to send you home early today.

What time does your bus come? I can let you leave early to make the next bus.

Yes, you can take some leftover bread home tonight.

*

To the Customer that ordered delivery:

I’m sorry we lost your delivery order. The driver was taking multiple orders at once and might’ve mixed yours up with another order. He is currently on the road with three more orders. Once he returns to the restaurant, I can remake the order for you and send him right out with it.

The roads are slippery. It’s snowing outside.

I tried to call in another driver. None of them want to pick up shifts. It’s hard to find someone who wants to knock on a stranger’s door during a pandemic.

I understand you have to feed your family. Again, this is our fault. We made a mistake, and I apologize. I would be happy to refund the order for you.

*

To the Mom who’s home with the kids all day:

I’m sorry the cookies were not in the bag. That was an error on our end. I can send out a delivery driver with the cookies, and I will add a few extra for the inconvenience.

I understand that you have anxious children at home. I’m sorry that we made this mistake. I am sending the cookies with a driver now. It is just going to be a few minutes.

*

To another Essential Worker picking up his dinner:

Hi, are you here for the chicken salad sandwich?

I want to let you know that we do not have any croissants to put your chicken salad sandwich on. Is there another bread you would prefer we use?

I’m sorry our website didn’t give you the option to change the bread for your sandwich. I can let you know what breads we do have available today.

We are baking less bread and limiting our variety due to the decline in sales. I’m sorry we don’t offer the bread you are requesting. We do have some softer breads that resemble a croissant. Would you like me to select one of those for you?

I am not able to refund part of an order. I would have to cancel out the entire order. Would you like me to cancel out your order today?

I will bring it right out when it’s ready.

*

To the Impatient Customer:

Ma’am, you had no right to call my associate stupid over the phone.

We are required to take a credit card number at the time of placing the order. Otherwise, we are unable to process the order. May I take your credit card number?

Ma’am do you mind repeating that a little slower? I am having trouble understanding you.

Ma’am, I would like to place this order for you. I cannot do that unless I can process the credit card.

Ma’am, you cannot be in the café. We are not allowing customer access inside the building.

I understand that you would like to speak to the General Manager. She is on a conference call right now and is unable to speak with you.

Ma’am please stop yelling at me.

Ma’am I need you to leave the building now.

I can take your phone number and have the General Manager give you a call.

You cannot be in the building.

An associate has called the police.

You need to leave.

#

My name is Misty. I’m an Essential Worker during the COVID-19 Crisis. And I am tired.

About Misty Yarnall

Misty Yarnall has fiction published in The Roadrunner Review, The Merrimack Review, KAIROS Literary Magazine, and Gandy Dancer. She won first prize in the Langlois Award for short fiction and the Sixth Act Playwriting Competition. Her short play "Santa Doesn't Smoke" was a featured winner in Writers & Books and GEVA Theater's 2 Pages/2 Voices event this past winter. She is currently working on a series of short plays.

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