What is happening????

[judy]

The sad truth is that I find that I have to get nasty with these clerks sometimes,
although they're pretty nice here. They are very overworked in Brooklyn, and I feel sorry for them.

The clerks who are talking or who are on the phone - oh no! I turn back into a high school teacher with that "tone." I also find that most people will do what you tell them to if you're very direct and clear about it. "Put the phone down and ring me up" works for me.