Dear Two Old Veterans In My Line

Dear two older men who came through my line today,

Please do not respond to news that the cashier's boyfriend is joining the Army with a step-by-step run down of how the military will identify his body if he is dismembered, complete with kicking his jaw shut on his dog tags.

I get it. You're cool, and you're old veterans, and you like showing off that you're okay with gruesome stuff. But here's the thing:

You get to leave. I am stuck here. I am stuck talking to tons and tons of people when I need to be alone with the pain you have poured on my heart, and I must be cheerful for another four hours until I reach my car. I am not allowed to cry.

Please, for the love of cashiers, for the love of one little cashier, shut up.

Sincerely,

Me