27 cents

At my employer of hip frozen yogurt, we have started to tax those purchases which are eaten on the premises. So, at the end of each order I have to ask "For Here or To Go?"

The responses to this question are varied, but the general three sentiments are:
"Why are you asking? Oh, you wanna know if I need a lid."
"Why are you asking? Oh, it's cheaper To Go isn't it? To go."
and
"Why are you asking? It's for here."
(They pay for their froyo.)
"Oh, is it more expensive if I eat it here?"

My responses to these responses are varied, but the general three sentiments are:
Quiet and self-hating as part of the capitalist system
Polite (and generally not amused by the young guy trying to hit on me)
Embarrassed

Today a woman came in, around two and a half hours after we'd opened and inquired about the strength our Pomegranate Bluberry flavor. This isn't an inquiry we get very often so I happily replied that is does have a strong Pomegranate Blueberry flavor with a tart undertone of our Original flavor. (When you work at frozen yogurt, it's sometimes fun to make it sound fancy). She seemed please by this response and order a Junior size.

When it came to total her order I of course asked if it was "For Here" or "To Go." She said it was "For Here," so I tapped the button and taxed her frozen yogurt.

Almost counting the thirty seconds, she turned around from the spoon and napkin stand and asked if there was a price difference for eating in or "stepping foot out the door."

"It's taxable if you eat it here."
"Fuck that."

She walked out the door and around our railing. I thought she had gotten frustrated enough not to actually stay and eat her frozen yogurt. The other customer inside gave me a sympathetic look.

But on principle I guess, she came back and sat herself at one of the outside tables.

27 cents. That's what she was taxed for eating at one of our tables.

I wanted to yell at her and be snipy, but that would only provoke more of the same. So I tried to think of something different.

Opening the cash register, I took out 27 cents and walked outside.

"Ma'am, here's your tax back."
"I don't want it."
"And I'd appreciate it if you don't speak to me like that again."
"I won't be coming back here."

She didn't look at me. I turned around before she'd finished speaking, went to my tip jar and took out 27 cents to replenish the till, and went straight to the backroom crying.

People get upset over the smallest things, whether it's justified or not. And there are small victories to be won. But who gets squashed along the way?