Punch line

I think I've reached the punch line at the end of the long-running Convenience Store From Hell joke. I went in this morning and, as usual, there were no large cups. I asked Marta for large cups. She threw down her mop (she was actually mopping), and stomped off to get cups. She returned, muttering something about refusing service.

At the register I asked her to elaborate on her feelings. "Every time you come in here you find something wrong!" she exploded.

"That's because something is always wrong. I just wanted a cup."

"Did you know we have two other stores?" she stormed.

"Um, you don't have cups because you have two other stores?"

"We're busy. We have a lot of things to do."

"But every time I come in here, Marta [the other Marta--I call them both Marta to protect their privacy] is standing in the kitchen talking on her cell phone."

"Well, that's her. You don't see me standing around, do you? I'm always working. I'm busy."

Actually, she's usually standing outside on the sidewalk, smoking, but I decided not to get into that. The point is, it turns out that it's my fault that it's the Convenience Store From Hell. It would be a flawless convenience store if I didn't keep asking for cups and lids and ice and stuff. The problem is not that they're out of cups. The problem is that customers ask for cups. There's a lesson in there for all of us.

I think that settles it. I need to find someone else to pick on. Though I am left wondering how one could refuse service when they don't offer any.