I first met Mark at the local grocery store not far from his house, where I worked part-time during my free hours. At nineteen, I wanted to feel financially independent and save some money, so I took a few shifts each week. My parents were proud of me; not only was I studying, but I was working too, which meant I could buy myself new gadgets or afford a trip somewhere. Mark thought my part-time job was a brilliant beginning, although he didnt work himself.
Our relationship started gradually and grew over time. Mark would give me flowers, and I would treat him to chocolates. There were even nights when we’d have late-night talks in the store, taking advantage of the quiet when there were no customers about.
Our happiness lasted just a couple of weeks. Marks mum humiliated me, and afterward, I couldnt bring myself to go out with her son. Even more, I felt deeply embarrassed.
One evening, she came into the shop with Mark. She didnt notice him winking at me or our exchanged smiles. When she reached the till, the register froze, and the customer grew agitated. She told me she’d shopped there countless times and that this only ever happened with me, implying I was useless at my job. She went on to call me a fraud, convinced I was deliberately cheating her out of her money by not giving her a proper receipt.
See, Mark, this is why you must study hard! So you never have to stand here, mumbling about a broken till!
It was mortifying, not just because she was my boyfriends mum, but also because there were other people in the queuemany I’d seen time and again, who would surely return and whisper about me.
Mark begged me to forgive his mother, claiming she was just having a bad day. But I couldn’t. I broke up with him and quit my job. Fortunately, I managed to land a remote position, less well paid but with more hours, and I could avoid dealing with people like Marks mother.
In my view, every job matters and is necessary, especially when youre a student with limited options. Its great that some have confident parents who think their child is extraordinary, but it doesnt mean life wont one day offer a graduate a position as a cashier.
