Getting Gas: When change equals $9.11

Yesterday, I was using one of our company vehicles and the orange low fuel warning light came on as soon as I started the van so I went to a gas station to fill it up. I handed the cashier a $50 bill and went to pump the gas.

When I returned for my change, the cashier counted the change, “5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9.11.” Then he looked at me with my hijab and said, “O my God, it’s 9.11, I just made change for 9.11, I can’t believe this!” He looked at me questioningly, and as I was eager to leave, I just shook my head and said, “I don’t know.”

I left and when I came to the first street light,  I realized I had forgotten to get a receipt, which I would need to be reimbursed. So I went back and when I entered the store, two other attendants were standing around close to the cashier. When I asked for my receipt, the cashier said to the two other attendants, “O my God, her change was 9.11, can you believe that, 9.11, man!” This time, I said, “Look man,  it wasn’t me,” and then I left.