Last Minute Chaos

Because most people forget about the mallside entrance I work at, my day was pretty quiet despite having only two days before Christmas. That is until I was about to close. The mall closed at six though my dear drug store stayed open until midnight, one would just have to go through the front entrance. So there I was, serving what I thought would be a one off, last minute customer. The time was five-fifty-nine, I had managed to rush through my closing duties, prepared everything I’d need to carry back when I cashed out, all I had left was this one customer. 
Except now I didn’t. 
Suddenly there was a line. 
Two people were already at the duo of self checkouts though I assumed they’d be finished around the time I would close the door to the mall. Behind them though was a line of about five or six others. I was supposed to be closing now. And there was a small hoard of people wanting to be served. My current customer regarded me with sympathy which increased as I muttered to her that I was supposed to be closing now and overtime pay was not a luxury I received. Now she passes this down the line in a sense. After I tell those waiting behind her that the mall is closed and I’m closing too, no one moves. I say it a second time. One woman tells me, 
“Well what about the people that have been waiting? The front has a huge lineup”. And because I’m painfully afraid of human interaction and I already used up what bravery I could muster for those two closing announcements, I said, 
“Fine, I’ll just take you all super fast”.
That was when the lady I had been serving told those behind her that I wouldn’t be getting overtime for this. After that, along came the “oh I’m so grateful”’s and the “you’re so generous”’s from each person I served next. I would have enjoyed the praise but it all rang false from these people because if they really did care, they would have gone to the front, suffered the long line, and left through the main door. 
But no.
Instead, these heathens, who knew full well I was not making any money serving them, stood their ground because gods forbid they have to wait in a line. Who’s fault is that? Here’s what peeves me, Christmas is the exact same day every single year and yet idiot shits like those in my lineup seem to fail at remembering that. Every one of them was doing some last minute shopping at the last minute of the mall’s open hours. IT’S THE SAME DAY EVERY YEAR! Christmas seasonal goods come out in November! We have two months to prepare and that’s only for themed merchandise. I know for a fact, most people don’t gift Christmassy themed presents. All of the holiday shopping could be covered around Black Friday. If you want to hit major savings, buy everything then. Stores generally have great sales the entire week around that one day. The only things people should be buying at this time are cards, holiday decor, and stocking stuffers. We sell gift cards year round, so do not be leaving that last minute as if you were the only one who thought Amazon and Steam would make great presents!
I tell you, we are such a dumb species sometimes. Even when we have important written dates that don't change, haven't changed in, what, hundreds of years, some of us still get caught off guard. The holidays that are scattered around the months haven't moved, at most, we’ve just added to them. Christmas shopping should not be this big of a nightmare. People shouldn’t be shipping gifts at the last minute, buying gifts at the last minute, planning everything out at the last minute. And they should especially not get pissed off at the cashiers dealing with this procrastinative bullshit. You aren’t the only person who thinks you can get away with covering the holidays two days in advance Janet! That’s why the post office is always overwhelmed. That’s why the tills are always backed up. Everyone has the exact same thought process and it FAILS EVERY YEAR! 
We had four tills open at the front that day and people still complained about the lines. They complained to me whilst I was in the aisles doing random tasks. Do you know why I was in the aisles? Because along with not planning ahead, people are horribly lazy at times and no one wanted to walk to the other side of the store for a faster checkout. They would rather wait ten minutes to be rung through rather than walk two and be out of the store shortly after. It took all day for customers to realize there was a faster alternative. All day to realize I was their saving grace at the opposite corner of the store. And finally, when they discovered me, my shift was over and I had to spend an extra six minutes serving the dumbasses. 
I left my drugstore at six thirty, fifteen minutes after I was supposed to clock off. I could have still ended past six fifteen on a regular day, but those six minutes of not being able to go to the staff room and begin counting my till pushed the entire cashing-out portion of my shift back. Those customers robbed me of my time. They kept me at my post, knowing I was making nothing. Did I lie a bit to them and say that I was off at exactly six? Aye, but I knew I’d get out all the later because of them so their actions still hold the same amount of selfishness. 
All I want to come from this, is that those of you who read my Christmas Eve post, heed this tale, these words, and learn from my frustrations of that day. Don’t be a dumb-dumb, plan ahead.