A Promoter's Daily Gripes at the Supermarket Sample Booth

Clock in at 1 PM, and the first thing I do isn't setting up samples, it's praying I don't encounter customers who treat me like a free buffet today. I'd barely finished arranging the table when the first auntie walked over. "Young lady, can I have another piece of this?" "Sure." She takes one, then turns and calls her husband. "Here, you try it too." After he finishes, he even calls their kid over. I stand there, smiling brightly, but inside I'm already calculating how many boxes I can actually sell today. The most common question is: "How much is this?" "It's on sale right now." "So what's the original price?" "..." "Is it cheaper next door?" Ma'am, I'm here to promote, not to be a price detective. By 3 PM, the crowd starts to grow. "Can I try a sample?" Yes, you can. "Can I take this home for my husband and kids?" Uh... this is a sample, not takeout. The most impressive one said after finishing their sample: "It's delicious, but I'm not buying." I just have to maintain my smile: "No problem, thanks for your support." Inside, I'm thinking: Were you participating in a taste test just now? Finally, at 5 PM, we're ready to pack up. My supervisor asks, "How was your day?" "Pretty good." Inside, I'm thinking: My legs are no longer my own. The next day, before heading to work, I start self-hypnotizing again: "Today, I'll definitely meet a lot of people willing to buy." Then I walk into the supermarket. "Excuse me, can I have a sample?" I take a deep breath. "Yes, of course. Please enjoy." Smiling on the outside, my soul clocked out long ago.