I’m in line at a popular discount retail store, with two people ahead of me. The women at the head of the line is clearly new to English, and while she has a thick accent and struggles, she does her best to speak to the cashier in English, even though he rolls his eyes and makes her repeat everything several times. Finally, she is able to leave. As soon as she’s out of earshot:
Cashier: “Ugh, they shouldn’t be allowed in our stores until they learn our language.”
(The man ahead of me says several things in another language.)
Cashier: “Oh, man, not another one. This is America. Learn the language.”
Customer: “Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed you’d learned Cherokee, since you’re so big on people learning the local language. My mistake.”
The cashier turned bright red and didn’t say another word throughout the transaction.