When I was a cashier at a grocery store, I had many people come through my line. I always tried to be friendly with all of them. But one day, one of my customers went out on a limb and confronted me while I was checking out his order.

He asked me where I was the following day and when I told him I was working, he prompted me with, "You were in the back of the store weren't you, playing with yourself." I didn't know what to tell him, so I said, "yes, it looks like you got me." He prompted me further when he said, "I bet you wish I was in the back playing with you too." By this point I was above my head, watching the one-sided dialogue transpire. He told me we should meet in the back the next time he came in because he wanted me.

There were many reasons why I broke into a cold sweat after he had walked out through the door. Maybe because he was 75 and I was 26? Or the fact that he is a man and so am I? Or maybe I felt violated like I had been touched by something dirty? Whichever reason justified it more I may never know. My stomach knew something was wrong and my entire body seemed to shift into a different gear.

I got a drink of water and sat down. Everything was still spinning around me and I felt oddly displaced. What had just happened? One of my managers knew something was wrong and sat down next to me. She was a lot like a parent to me so I told her everything. When my main front-end manager came in, I told her too. She called the store director, and together we called the police.

After everything was said and done, we had nothing on him. Not even a name. The officer told me I needed a witness for them to do anything about it. From that point on everytime he came into the store, I simply hid. My managers accommodated me whenever they could. But one day, he caught me off guard and snuck into my line. He mentioned the meeting with me once again and even added an endearing "babe" into his romeo-esque antics.

We eventually got his name and phone number and I have been able to escape his company without further confrontations. Most of my co-workers know what he looks like and alert me in time. As long as they stay close, he won't come near. I do not avoid him because I am afraid of him, but because I am revolted by him.

I never used to think sexual harassment happened to men, or at least that it would happen to me. I have never looked the same at it since. I have never sexually harassed anyone myself, but now that I have experienced it myself, I feel like I have more to say on the matter.

Learn more about this author, Jeremy Zimdars.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Testimonies: Sexual harassment?
We want to hear your view. Write now!