Brownies in bags

Megan Mitzel
Jul 27, 2017 · 1 min read

Monday at Whole Foods, as I checked out with a small bag (read: huge and overflowing) of cookies and a brownie from the pick-it-yourself bar, the cashier said, “Brownies aren’t by weight.”

“What?” I asked.

“Brownies are a flat fee,” she said.

Puzzled, I stood there, staring at her. “OK.” I replied, unsure why she was sharing that fact with me, as I felt I’d adequately approved the transaction by trying to buy one.

Still, she kept staring right back at me, increasingly annoyed.

Until, finally, it hit me. She wanted me to pick up the brownie, so she could weigh everything else to ring it up, before adding in the flat fee.

Her approach wasted her time, wasted my time, and made me feel dumb. All she had to do was say what she needed, literally.

What a great reminder: say what you mean — in your relationships, with your friends, with your family, and at work. You owe it to yourself, and the rest of us (even your dog).

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade