Today's Pat on the Back goes to the check out clerk at my little town's Convenient Mart. As I was checking out today there was an old man ahead of me paying for gas. He told her he owed "40 dollars and 16 cents". There are four pumps there. The clerk looked on the monitor and then asked him what pump he was using. He did not know, but continued trying to give her two twenties and a one. She looked again asked him one more if he was sure. This guy was about 90, mumbled as he spoke, and I made my mind up I would be careful and watch him get back in his car to leave.
Finally the clerk smiled and said, "Oh I see. Sir, you do not owe $40.16. You pumped 4.016 gallons. You were looking at the wrong line. You only owe $16.26". He wasn't convinced, argued some more, until finally she was able to explain what the figures on the pump meant. I didn't mind waiting as she did so, because could you imagine him at some other gas station? The poor guy might go broke filling up every day.
I did watch him get in his car and drive away. He seemed safe enough, so good for him!
