come a knock on my door....

every time this type of situation happens, i realize how much misery loves company...me, another person, and misery - three's company!
do you ever find yourself in a situation where you realize that someone is projecting their misery directly onto you? most typically, this happens when people are in a service-oriented job and you are the paying customer.
take, for example, a common interaction at the United States Postal Service office:
Me (Paying Customer): (walk up with box to ship) Hello!
Miserable Lady: (with already disgusted look on her face waiting for me to beg)
PC: Would it be okay if I borrowed some tape to tape this box up?
ML: Well, normally, the boxes are taped, labeled, and ready to go?
PC: (wanted to say: "Really, EVERYONE?") I know, I'm sorry, I just don't have any tape at home, and I was in a hurry, is that alright to borrow some?
ML: (sighing loudly) Since we are a franchised office, we try to take care of our folks and have a few supplies laying around for you to use.....
PC: I really appreciate it; I really would have taped it myself, but honestly all I had was Scotch tape.
ML: Yeah, well, like I said, we try to take care of our folks, so I guess I can loan you some tape (the ratty tape is right underneath the counter and she won't even help me tape up the box).
PC: Thanks, I really do appreciate it.

I make the label, pay, and leave. I think to myself, "Would it have been so hard to simply reach under the counter and just give me the tape? Certainly others, every day, do NOT have the boxes taped?!"
I also sometimes want to make up a complete lie to tell them something outrageous like, "I'm sorry I don't have tape and it's just been a horrible week because my grandmother died and I am just beside myself"...but i know how horribly WRONG that would be, on so many levels. so i usually just act polite and try to make them feel a little bad because i'm a "nice person".