I walked into my office building this morning and stopped at the little snack kiosk to buy a small bottle of apple juice. There’s usually no line, but today there were a few people in front of me. The woman who was next in line turned to me and said, “I’m not in line.” I said, “Oh, okay,” and I walked ahead of her to pay for my juice. After paying, I turned around, and another woman who had been there was looking at me.

“I was in line,” she said.

I hadn’t meant to cut in front of her. I didn’t think she was in line either, especially since the first woman had been looking at me when she’d invited me to go ahead.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said.

“No you’re not.”

Excuse me?

“Yes, I am,” I said.

“No you’re not,” she said, sharing a look with the first woman. I don’t know if it’s because I was a guy or because I was a white guy.

“Look, I’m truly sorry, and I don’t know why you think otherwise,” I said, irritated, as I walked away and headed toward the elevators.

I was so pissed off. If someone apologizes to you, you give that person the benefit of the doubt. You don’t act like a bitch about it.

Oh, and good morning. :)