By RTF Staff Writer Catey Yuen

Every time I go to a store, I can count on having a bad experience with the clerks. From the time my sister had to slap the arcade employee, to the time I found out the mailing store clerk was stalking me, I can trust that I’ll come out with a new and not necessarily happy memory.

Out of all the grocery store clerk dramas I’ve been in, the worst was the time the grocery store clerk was a little too zealous in his job.

“I’m fine.” Forlornly, I glanced up from my wallet at the grocery store clerk. “I’m a minor. My mom has one in the car. I just forgot to bring it in.”

The clerk shook his head. “C’mon, you know you need a preferred customer card. Besides, they’re free.”

“But I don’t want one. Please.” I said. I was impressed that I hadn’t wavered yet. Twenty minutes is a long time to stand there arguing with the clerk.

The clerk reached into a side drawer and pulled out the card, decked with a three-inch stack of papers. “Yes, you do. You don’t get the sale prices otherwise.”

“But I don’t want a preferred customer card!”

“Yes, you do.” He ripped the papers off the card, scanned it, smacked it into the palm of my hand and glared at me. “That would be $11.50.”

I bit my lip and handed him the money. I may have slid a few extra bills in there. My sister calls it bribery, but that’s a little harsh.

As I explained to my sister the reason she should pay the clerk next time, she said, “He was just doing his job.”

She’s right. I’ve met that clerk on numerous occasions (usually while in the process of trying to hide) and he’s very passionate about doing his job, helping people get the most from their money, even if it does mean bullying defenseless girls who don’t want to get a savings card.

I wonder what would happen if the church looked at Christianity with the same intensity as that clerk looked at saving me money. After all, it is our responsibility to spread the good news. If I could mirror the excitement for the message that the grocery store clerk had showed me, I would make a great evangelist.

Or at very least, a good stalker.