Picture the most standard of transactions with good interaction and communication between customer and barista, only for the customer to freeze and go unresponsive when asked for payment.

I had requested 3 times, each time a little more abrupt than the previous, and that was my limit. A quiet time so no queue pressure. Sometimes people hope the drink will be made in good faith, their payment doesn't go through (no funds, blocked card, expired card you name it), and expect to be given the drink for free rather than pouring it away down the sink.

This was different. He was concentrating extremely, perhaps counting.

He eventually woke up, apologised, and paid, and the communication continued as if nothing happened. Really odd.