Buttons, revisited

I made my monthly pilgrimage to the post office to pay bills today. It was really busy, so the ticket machine let me know that my estimated wait time was 12 minutes.

I didn't have much to do but stand there, so I did. After awhile, I realized that I was fixating on their button system. Here's how it works: each postal worker works at a window from A to K. When they're ready for a customer, they push a button. Immediately you hear a buzzer and see a new, shiny, bright red number pop up on a screen. Then the customer belonging to the number goes to the screen and carries out his transaction. Instant gratification for the button-pusher.

I need to seriously rethink my choice of career...