"Like Cinderella I am transformed."

So I was at work last night, and the funniest thing happened. A customer wanted to buy a treadmill. This isn't the funny thing. It took me forever to find the trailer log as per usual. Again, not the funny thing. So I finally find the trailer log, and locate my treadmill I need. Wouldn't you know it there wasn't a manager to be found. One was on lunch the other was just unavailable to help me. By now about 20 minutes has gone past and my customer is waiting patiently, but he really should have his treadmill by now. So I did what I had to do to get that trailer unlocked. I go back there and run into David Goodrich. "Hey David want to help me with loading this treadmill onto this cart?"
David: "Ah I can't Valerie, I'm dealing with an angry customer..."
I continue asking several other associates for help who all respectfully decline.
....
If you're failing to see the humor in all this yet, it's because I haven't gotten to the real funny part.
So...little Valerie...all 126 lbs. of me decides to do it herself.
Here comes the funny...
So I manage to get the treadmill onto the cart. During the process I throw my back out. Ouch. I haven't quite felt anything like this before. I almost felt like every step I took someone was kicking me in the stomach. My journey was not yet over.
Far from it.
I wheel the treadmill to the front of the store and with a proud smile on my face inform the customer that "Here's your treadmill!" He just kind of glances at me and says, "Ok, let's pay for it then."
We approach the register; keep in mind every step I take is in excruciating pain. As a general rule at Dick's Sporting Goods associates don't let the customer push their heavy products...or load them into their cars...So I continue to push the cart out to the front of the store and wait to help load it into their truck.
To my surprise a manager shows up just in time to help load it. Luckily I didn't have to help load it or I would be in even bigger trouble with my back. So they get it all loaded and the customer drives away. I push the empty cart back into the store and tell the front end manager that I'm pretty sure I threw my back out. The response?
"Sucks to be you."
Wow. Thanks. So I continue on my way and put the cart back. I decide to stumble up the escalator to go take some pain pills. I get to the offices and find the IBUTab. I take two and head back downstairs. On my way down the escalator (that conveniently broke down and had to be taken like stairs) I get a page.
"Valerie, call 403."
The paging person looked up and saw me hobbling down the "stairs" and heads over to tell me "customers need your help." Really? You'd think that was my job... So I go over to help some customers. One needed a 70 lb MMA bag and the other needed an inversion table. Neither of which I can lift at this point. So I look around and see David Goodrich again. Surely he isn't still dealing with a customer, that was like an hour ago. My plea for help was ignored. Turns out he was too busy. Then, like a Godsend John Popenberg sees me and says, "Are you ok, Val?"
YOU BET I'M NOT!
Thank the Lord for John Popenberg. He helped the customer with the inversion table as I headed back to the trailers to get the punching bag. Again I was helped by a footwear associate who could see I was in pain. He helped me tons. (Thanks Stu) So as Stuart and I roll up with the MMA bag on a dolly, the font end manager walks past.
"Hey, I think I'm going to need to go home, my back is way messed up."
Manager: "Hm...that's tough. Sorry about your luck."
The punching bag customer sees this exchange and gets infuriated.
"He basically told you that it sucks to be you, huh?" Isn't it kind of sad when a customer is disappointed by the support the management gives me? (The answer is yes.)
To make a long story short, I got a hold of the store manager and he sent me home. I get home take a couple muscle relaxers and sit bemusedly on the couch. A couple of my friends show up to see how I'm doing. Great guys. :) So the three of us sit on the couch and they kept me company...even through my vomit session...cute.
To end the story on a hilarious note... I called in about an hour ago to let work know I probably won't make it in because my back is still hurting and I don't want to cause further damage.
Guess who answered the phone. Mister Front End Manager. I let him know that my back is pretty painful still and I won't make it to work at 4. His response?
"Great. You know work is really busy today, Valerie. Thanks a lot."
I apologize and get a "yeah." in return.
Sometimes I wonder why I still work there. Seriously, what's the point if I get treated like I'm a bad person for being left to my own devices helping a customer and get hurt in the process?
Are you laughing yet?