How can I not help you, today?

On a trip last week across Texas, my students and I were asked to get off our charter bus so the driver can get gas. Our driver found a great place for us to stop one in which had a cinnamon and a McDonald's inside. My kiddos were happy cause they are always up for McDonald's. One kiddo ordered something, paid and waited. Then she waited longer. Then still she waited longer. The ice machine was broken but no one wanted to fix the halfway broken machine and my young student isn't one to stand up for herself. She was just content to leave the order there and not even get a refund.

I explained that was not going to be the case. She was going to get what she paid for. So me, being the adult had to step in on her behalf. The manager walked by and inquired about the machine and when it was going to get fixed. The man mumbled something under his breath and grabbed the cordless phone and went in the back.

After a few moments that manager came back up front but avoided eye contact and avoided my general direction. I guess he thought I was going away. So, I yelled at him. "I have a bus full of students waiting on you to do your job. I need this drink done now." He told me it wasn't working and he may have to give a refund. But within 2 minutes the machine was miraculously fixed. All he had to do was take something out and put it back in.

Why did it take my getting ugly to have the product I paid for delivered? Why were they willing to ignore a patron and risk losing business? Why was not my own position of authority not taken seriously. Obviously I had it with the student? I doubt he wouldn't have done that with a white patron. Just another day of being black I suppose.