Comedians behind the counter.

Today is Valentine's Day. That's not really a reason for me to be either excited or depressed. I don't celebrate it with my boyfriend because we're poor, lowly college students and it's hard enough just to make our utility payments on time. Besides, do I really find teddy bears or Russell Stover candies thrilling. No I don't. This is all I'm going to say about Valentine's Day. I think I've already made my case against the holiday in a previous entry, so there.
This cold and blistering morning, I had the fortune of working alongside one of Nasty's more entertaining employees, this guy named Jonas. He has worked there for around six years I think, so he's really a dinosaur compared to the mostly new staff.
When I met him, four years ago, he was a sad man- lonely and chubby and a little bit mean. This carried on for some time. He got a girlfriend maybe a year or so ago, and also took a part-time teaching position. The combined effects of these changes seem to be overwhelmingly positive.
When I work with Jonas, I am continuously shocked throughout the shift at his ability to laugh and small talk with customers. It seems so natural, and I know it is- he's just saying whatever comes to mind, which in his case is usually funny- sometimes in a gross way though. What gets me is how open customers are to his somewhat inappropriate sense of humor. I've seen him transform the stiffest suits into giggling little girls. It's quite amazing to watch.
I would love to have this effect on customers, but I know that I never will. I am a petite, cute, and sometimes intimidating (so I've been told) woman. No matter how chummy I think I'm getting with a regular, there is always a barrier. I believe it comes from within me, and has something to do with my general fear of strangers that can be interpreted as a snobbish or closed-off personality. Yes, that's definitely it.
Jonas presents himself in sort of this, "Here I am world. I'm not perfect- in fact I'm far from it. But I don't care, I just want to make dumb jokes and be a weird hairy guy." There is something about the slobby everyman persona that people are amused by. Because they can relate to it I guess? He is truly funny though, I kid you not.
I try to be cute and funny, but my delivery and my overall public self will probably never put people at such ease as Jonas'.
I would like to work on this.