(I work on a cruise ship, and it’s 3 pm on embarkation day–the day all guests board. There are hundreds of people in the main atrium, milling about, asking tour questions and filling in forms. A male guest in his 50s approaches one of the tour staff with a paper in hand.)
Customer: “I have filled my form out. It says here you need to check it?”
Me: “Yes, you have a medical waiver for our snorkel tour. I’ll check it over so I can give you your tickets.”
(I read the form and notice that ‘Circulatory Problems’ has been checked.)
Me: “Sir, it says here you have circulation problems. Is this exercise related?”
Customer: “No, I had a minor surgery.”
Me: “Ah, was it cardiovascular, or–”
(A woman, also in her 50s and dressed in a blue velvet leisure suit with lots of gold jewelry suddenly bursts in.)
Customers Wife: *very loudly* “Harvey, what is this man asking you? I’m his wife.”
Me: “Ma’am, I am just confirming some details on his waiver so he can go snorkeling.”
(She grabs the form.)
Customers Wife: “Let me see that…oh, Harvey you didn’t put down your surgery, that’s why.”
(A couple of guests have turned to listen as the wife of Harvey is very, VERY loud.)
Me: “Yes, ma’am. I was just going to ask Harvey–”
Customers Wife: “Oh, I can tell you what it is. It was for removal of varicose veins.”
Me: “So, it really isn’t circula–”
Customers Wife: *loudly* “They’re on his testicles!”
(I quickly take the form and excuse Harvey. Immediately, Harvey runs off.)
Customers Wife: “Harvey, where are you going? Harvey, what’s wrong?” *chases after Harvey*
