This reminds me of a bad experience I had with a pharmacist.

I was there filling a prescription for someone else. From the moment I showed up to get a prescription filled, the pharmacist was an arrogant dismissive prick. That I could let slide. It’s just how many people are.

But when I handed him my ID, that’s when things went south. He said, “This is a military ID. And you’re not in the military. I should confiscate this from you. In fact I think I just won’t give it back.” I was in the military, actually, but had just returned from a deployment where my hair was longer and I looked more unkempt than usual. How he thought pharmacists had the authority to confiscate anything from anyone remains a complete mystery to me.

He wasn’t joking, though. As I mentioned above: arrogant dismissive prick.

I said calmly, almost cheerily, “You’d be surprised how fast I can jump this counter and make you regret that course of action.”

He waited a moment to see if I would flinch or walk my statement back. I just stared at him. The moment passed and then he realized nothing good was going to occur. There’s a particular look that bullies get when they realize they are in over their heads. I’ve seen it many times. It’s confusion, fear and resentful anger all mixed up together. I saw it on the pharmacist’s face as he handed me back my ID.

“I was just joking,” he said. They usually say that.

“I wasn’t,” I replied. “Now either fill my prescription or not. I don’t care.”

He filled my prescription and didn’t say another word to me. Never went back there again, though.

Are all pharmacists such dickheads? All the ones I’ve met have been — but that was the worst I’ve ever experienced.