From Twink, October, 2009:
My freshman year of college I was assigned to write an "Example" essay for English. We were to pick a subject, and give various examples that fit said subject. I chose to go with something I was hugely familiar with.
The various types of people one interacts with at a drive thru. See if you're familiar with any of these.
Snatch and Grab
They think that if they don't take their stuff from you the instant you put it out the window, you'll take it away forever. When they take an item from you, you almost feel compelled to make sure you've still got all your fingers.
Permanent Grumps
You smile, you greet them, you try to engage them in conversation. Yet nothing you can do seems to make them smile, and more often than not, their mood rubs off on you.
I Forgot
You ask them at several points in their order if they would like to order anything else and they say "that's all thanks", and then when they get to the window, they always seem to remember something they forgot to order literally 15 seconds earlier. They apologize profusely, and you tell them that it's okay, when inside you'd like to smack them because they're making your time average go up.
I Cant Function if I'm Not on My Cell Phone
Throughout the entire order, you're unable to tell if they're talking to you, or the person on the other end of their phone call, and because of that, their order is almost always wrong on some level, but they swear it's your fault.
Drive Off Before They Get Their Total
The instant you verify that their order is correct, they pull forward towards the window before they can get a total, and the very first thing they ask you when you open the window is "How much was it?" (I had a boss who actually let me answer them with a sarcastic "Oh I'm sorry, didn't you hear me when I gave it to you?")
You Cant Build a Building Right
They pull up to the window, with around a foot of space between the outside curb, and their car window, and claim that they do so because your company cannot build a building properly and it will damage his car. You nod in understanding all the while thinking "No you just can't drive you stupid prat".
I'm Above You
When you try to make conversation with them while at the window, they refuse to talk to you any more than necessary, as if you're beneath them, and they're afraid that speaking to someone in your position would tarnish their social status. These are the most common causes for a cashier to shut the doors and mutter "bitch" or "asshole" when this customer drives away.
I Drive a Diesel Because They're Popular
They trip the speaker, and your ears are instantly assaulted by a loud rattling noise. The customer will actually attempt to order while the truck is running, and is stunned when you ask him to turn it off. These trucks are usually tricked out and impeccably clean, which instantly tells you the truck wasn't bought for functionality.
I'm 16 So You Betta Recognize
They're young, have recently gotten their licenses, and think they're a complete badass because of it. They often think that the car makes them better than everyone else, and they have a right to treat you however they feel.
I Think Drive Thru's Are Private
My all time favorite people. They don't realize that when they trip the speaker, even though they cannot hear you, you can hear everything they say while they're sitting at the speaker. Their conversations are often a source of amusement for anyone wearing a headset during a particular shift.
I Want to Talk to The Steering Wheel/Order Through my Window
They seem to somehow think that either you can hear them through their window, or that the steering wheel has some sort of wireless connection to the drive thru speaker. They almost always get frustrated when you ask them to speak louder.
And there you have it. Did I miss any?
(BTW....I got an A on the paper, and my professor asked for a copy of it because it was one of the most original topics he'd ever seen).