What's the Point?

Sometimes you just get on a roll with people . . . . 

I bought a pair of glasses and a couple of boxes of contacts from the Costco optical department.  (Fair disclosure: I fucking love Costco).  I drove to the store a few days ago to pick up both orders.  I drove down to the store specifically to pick them up.  There was no other reason for me to go to the store.  I did not want to go to the store.  I wanted to do something else.  This was a special trip to get my optical goods.

When I arrived I took a little number from one of those little number dispensing devices (Fair disclosure: I fucking hate those little number dispensing devices, preferring to wade into the crowd, swinging my elbows, and get served first) and saw that there were about ten people in line before me.  So I shopped and bought some crap I didn't really need, checked out, took my purchases to the car, and returned to the optical department where the little device told me that there were still about ten people ahead of me.  So I went home.  Didn't feel like waiting.  No big deal.

Today I made a special trip back down to Costco and found that the situation hadn't changed.  In fact, it looked to me like some of the people who were waiting a few days ago were still there.  I asked one of the optical people if I had to take a little number if I was just picking up an order. 

"Contacts or glasses?"

Both.

"You can get the contacts, but not the glasses because we have to fit them for you."

OK.  How long do you think the wait is?

The kid looked at the line and then back at me.  He appeared to be trying to come up with a figure, a rosy figure, which still would have been a lie.  I know - I'm a liar so I can tell when someone is getting ready to lie.  It would have been a kind, optimistic lie, but a lie nonetheless.

A colleague behind him said: "It's going to be a while."  I wasn't sure why she was butting in but . . . 

OK.  Can I get the contacts then?

As the kid was getting the contacts out I said:  I'll tell you what - can you give me both orders now and I'll come back and get the glasses fitted later, when you aren't so busy?  (Fair disclosure: I don't think I added "when you aren't so busy" but it makes me sound better . . .  in retrospect).

The woman chimes in with: "Sir, there are ten people in line before you."

I'm not trying to cut in line.  I'd just like to pick my order up.  

At this point I didn't know why she was talking to me at all, let alone in this confrontational tone.  I'm really a very low-key person, relaxed in demeanor and friendly, and I wasn't trying to get special treatment.  If I need a little number to pick up my order, fine, tell me that.  If I don't need a little number how about giving me my fucking stuff and I'll get out of your hair? 

She came over and told the kid to give me the order and make a notation on the paperwork that I hadn't gotten them fitted.

I wasn't trying to cut in line.

"Sir, that's not the point.  But you're all taken care of haveaniceday."

I mean what the fuck is going on right now?