Outta Twenty

In New York when you're in a store and paying for something, you can say to the cashier "out of five" or "out of twenty" or whatever, and while you're pulling out that five or twenty, they are getting your change. It's a time-saver, and there's nothing New Yorkers like more than that.

It drives me nuts that Californians do not seem to grasp this concept. If I say "out of ten" to them, they just stand there, waiting. So yesterday when the cashier starting pulling together my change as I dug that twenty out of my wallet, I got so excited that I did something completely out of the norm. I turned on the charm and chatted with the cashier. He confirmed that he is from Jersey, and made a joke about how Californians are a distrustful lot and that must be why they won't start making change until they've been handed the actual bill.

I've been the cashier. I know how the pressure feels when you look up and see a long line of people waiting for you. It just seems like good sense to never stop moving when ringing people up.

I would never make it in the South.