Please don't talk to me.

I volunteered yesterday afternoon after walking very slowly and carefully through the snow/ice/pooped filled sidewalks to the store which is located in town. Normally, there are 2 volunteers plus me. I usually sit in the corner and watch or chat with the other volunteers or stack items on the shelves or wrap gifts or ring up items for customers. I try not to interact with the customers since they scare me. Friendly, aren't I?

Yesterday, one of the volunteers couldn't make it so it was just me and Anne. I think she was a little nervous because she knew she couldn't run out to grab a pack of smokes and leave me alone in the store nor did I know how to help her close up business before we left for the evening. I told her that it would be alright if she quickly needed to run out (she never did) and also reassured her that I could quickly learn how to help close up the cash register and take care of business before we left. She asked me if I would be okay counting the money from the cash register. Of course...but can I count in English otherwise we'll be here until midnight?

A couple walked in and the gentleman was asking question after question about commerce equitable (Fair Trade) and what it is we do and sell. Anne answered all his questions as I stood there and smiled. The phone than rang and she answered it and then went in the back office to help the caller, leaving me in the store with this gentleman of many questions. I looked at him and was thinking/praying, "Please don't ask me a question. Please don't ask me a question." And then he turns around and faces me and...asked me a question. Oy vey. I immediately respond: "Sorry, I don't speak very good French." That interested him even more than the purpose of our store.

Another customer approached me about some buying some items as gifts. Scared as I was, I calmly helped her. While Anne and I were wrapping her gifts, Anne asks me for du film a bulles. Um, sorry, but I don't understand. I repeat and repeat to her, in front of the customer. She couldn't just scootch around me and grab it herself? After I finally figure out that it was "bubble-wrap" she was asking for, I look at her, like an idiot, and tell her that the words are pretty much the same in English. Duh.