the boy behind the deli counter

Tonight Sarah, Jen, Becks, and I picked up dinner from Berkeley Bowl. Everyone opted for to-go sushi whilst I chose to get a made-to-order wrap.

So I walk up to the deli counter, where they also take all the sandwich and wrap orders. I ask the boy, "Hi, can I get a teriyaki chicken wrap?" He responds, "No." This just bamboozled me. Then he smiles to indicate that he was just kidding and was trying to be playful with me, which my Boy-Girl Interaction Mental Translator (everyone else has version 4.0 and I still have 1.0) belatedly realized. I thought he was smiling sadistically at the pain he was inflicting at depriving me of my wrap.

Then he asks, "What's your name?" I say, "Denise." He goes, still smiling, "No it isn't." By then I was so confused. I don't like to have bunches of negations thrown unapologetically at my face, under some guise of being playful. I was just plain old confused until Sarah took pity and kindly informed me, "He's hitting on you."

Anyway, he finally just went away to make the darn wrap.

When he finally calls my name and I approach the counter, he smiles again and says, "Denise? Not to be confused with delightful," as he hands me my wrap. I didn't even hear this last bit, I only had eyes for the hulking wrap he was handing over, so I just said, all chipper and brightly, "Thanks!" and ran off to pay for my food. Becky later had to inform me of what he actually said.

What the heck. That's what getting hit on is like??? That is what I've been missing out on??? Being another piece of meat that the deli boy's appraising eye was fixed on? Blech. Almost makes me want to be a vegetarian again.