A good story has a great title and an even better first line. Writers call it the "hook". Once your first line has that captivating sentence and brings provocative thought and great expectation, you've got yourself a bestseller. Well, the story I'm about to tell is true. It happened only today. A page in my very exciting and never boring life.
I was feeling good. Vaughn had completed the grueling comp exam and had some free time today. I just completed helping someone with a science project that we both enjoyed at their home. They live in the Haslett area. Upon leaving, I inquired after the location of the nearest post office. I was elated to send a money order abroad for the payment of receiving my albums. I hadn't seen my wedding, honeymoon or Arielle's first baby pics since we left Trinidad in 2007. The nearest postal office was on Haslett road, just beyond the railway track. A very small post office, only consisted of two clerks who seemed nice enough and spoke loudly.
There were just 3 other customers beside me and for this season, this was good. The postal workers were moving very quickly. Soon, I was next and the postal officer called Denice beckoned me forward with " Next".
I walked forward with a smile, very happy to be getting through so quickly and said hello. I told her I wanted to purchase in international postal order and have it mailed to Canada. She looked at me, no expression on her face and turned to the clerk next to her. She repeated what I said very loud and mockingly, rolling her eyes with every word and walked away to the back. At this point, I stared on in absolute shock. I couldn't believe what I just saw happen. An awkward silence filled the small room as everyone turned to me to see what my reaction would be. Well, the old me would've reacted differently. But the new me had other plans. I just stood there still in shock.
After a minute, I was able to turn my head and close my mouth and look to the other clerk, who was still staring at me ...also in amazement. She kindly said that this transaction is not something they do often so they may not have the money orders. The customer she was attending to also chimed in, to help fill the awkward silence and said that it's good to know cause sometimes she would want to purchase postal orders.
Denice came back, still expressionless and said Ma'am we do not have any international money orders, you'll have to go to the Okemos office. I gave a brief smile and left the post office. I was very very mad and too upset to talk. I called Vaughn on the phone and related the story to him.
Usually in situations like this, I always have a response, but I was so shocked....I couldn't say a word. I wondered after what could possibly be the reason for her to be so horrible and give me such awful customer service. And in moments like this, when all reason fails....I wonder if it's because of my race. Because I couldn't think of any other reason why this person would single me out and treat me with such great disrespect.
I didn't know where the Okemos PO was and I wasn't about to ask Denice where it was. So I went to the East Lansing PO some distance away. The lines were long but the service was quick. When I got to the top of the line, I asked the clerk if they sold International postal orders here. She said yes, it would take a few minutes but it can be done. I got through with the money order and the clerk noticed the puzzled look on my face. I told her what happened to me just a few minutes ago and she gave me a number to call to make a complaint. She told me I should call the postmaster at the PO in haslett and let them know what happened.
Finally I got home and went directly to the phone. I first called the Haslett PO, because I didn't want to complain to the consumer affairs dept without having gone through the right channels. I called the haslett PO and Denice answered the phone. I said hello and inquired of her to speak to the postmaster of the outlet or the supervisor. Denice informed me that she was the postmaster. I said to her that I should speak to someone else, maybe someone higher that her. She said ..it's okay you can speak to me. To this, I said that it wont be right seeing that I am calling to make a complaint about her and I don't think she is the best person to speak to . This probably shocked her because she didn't responded. I continued by saying that I was there earlier and asked if she remembered me the customer who she was very rude too and I need to complain about her disrespect and poor customer service. She eventually found her voice and gave me a number. I said thank you ( all in a very calm voice) and hung up.
Now you're thinking I called the number she gave me. Nope I didn't. I called consumer affairs and spoke the the regional manager over the Haslett and Okemos PO. She apologized to me and said that the behavior of the postmaster was unacceptable. She told me that I would be contacted by Denice's direct supervisor shortly. Less than an hour later, I received a call from the said supervisor and retold my story. His voice showed shock and disbelief. He said he didn't understand the reason for the disrespectful behavior and went on about the type of transaction etc. He apologized over and over and assured me it would be handled.
Suffice it to say, I felt much better. Of course I would never go to that PO again in Haslett and I prayed that Denice would not treat anyone the way she treated me today. If it's one thing that makes a person feel less than human is unwarranted disrespect for whatever reason.
I had an awful couple of days prior to today. Sometimes I wonder why I have those experiences. It's not uncommon to some but I seem to have a knack for attracting situations, others so easily don't encounter. By nature I am not someone that is afraid to say what's on my heart. But I'm always looking for reasons why or intentions when dealing with these customer service issues.
The best of times came later today. I got to go through my albums with my husband and walk down memory lane. It felt like a lifetime ago. I got to share the photos with my kids and show how young healthy looking we were before they were born....haha. Just kidding. Athough, Arielle kept saying how skinny I was. Lovely memories and sad moments. What would life be without a mixture of the two. Life is too short to harbor hate towards people...especially people we don't know or understand or who don't look or behave like us. Everyone this weekend reflected on their own mortality after the Sandy Hook shootings. Innocent kids and trusted teachers lost their lives senselessly. Even now it brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. These are the times we live it.....the best of times and the worst of times....but we shall continue to say...:To God be the Glory".
