Nobody works here

I was browsing the seasonal displays in a busy local pharmacy years ago, while waiting for a prescription to be filled for a home hospice patient. Since I was on duty, of course I was wearing scrubs and my identification badge for the pharmacist to verify I could pick up powerful pain medications to be billed to my employer.

After a few minutes, a man walked up to me and asked me for help in locating an item in the medical supplies and equipment aisle. When I told him I was sorry, I did not work for (pharmacy), he replied: "Yes, I'm well aware of that, but it seems nobody on duty here works for (pharmacy) either! I thought I'd take my chances with a total stranger and see how it goes."

We went to the aisle together and I located the item for him. In a very loud voice, he said to me on his way to the checkout: "Thank you non-(pharmacy) employee for your unpaid help!" and waved goodbye to me.