I'm sure kids everywhere are excited that school is over for the summer, but I'm not.
This is when it now becomes free babysitting for parents.
Most of the kids around here, aged 12-16, will wander the streets having fun.
After a few hours of lounging around wherever they feel like outside, they will then come into my store.
The other morning, at 6am, we had one of those kids come in. He was probably around 14 years old.
My first thought was "Why is this kid out at six in the morning?"
My second was "What is he wearing?"
He had on three layers of clothing, and I saw them all. First was the dark blue boxers he wore. I saw them so clearly because the second layer, a pair of shorts, was hanging half off of his butt. Then the third layer, a pair of sweatpants, was hanging completely off of his butt. It looked like someone had "pantsed" him but then saw all his layers of clothing and just gave up.
He was actually walking around like this. When I saw him walk, I noticed he was doing the pee-dance, like he needed to use the bathroom, but then I realized he was standing like that in order to keep his pants from falling down.
He wandered around the store for a little bit and then left. A few minutes later another kid came in and walked up to my register.
"Can I help you?"
He handed me a wad of crumpled money. "Hey, can I have a pack of Camel Menthol?" he said as he pointed at the Virginia Slims.
"Sure," I said as I went to go get his cigarettes. "Can I see your ID?"
"I left it at h-home," he stuttered.
"Sorry, I can't sell cigarettes without an ID," I said, handing him back his wad of crumpled cash.
"Oh, it's okay, I'm sorry," he mumbled as he left.
Once he was outside he headed in the same direction that the pants kid had gone. As I watched him I saw him go 'Damn!' and shake his head, clearly disappointed that he had been unsuccessful.
But my first thought still exists: Where are their parents and why are they walking the streets trying to buy cigarettes at six in the morning??
This is not going to be a good summer, I can just tell already.
Only 1 more month until the Carnival from Hell begins this year.
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My friend worked at a gas station before and young kids like this were constantly coming in trying to get cigarettes. When she told them she couldn't sell without ID, they'd try hitting on her...ew.
ReplyDeleteWhat a drag. I work at a high-end kitchen store, and your would-be cigarette buyers come in my store and buy whipped cream caspules (nitrogen) to get high off of. They try to buy 5 or 6 boxes (each box has 10). The legal limit is 2 boxes. We also card. Get a life, get a part-time job, kids!
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not the only one going insane during summer break. For me it's spray paint and things of that nature (not to mention beer), I laugh because half of these kids look like their 12 and I'm going >_< "No Id, no sale, simple, no?"
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ReplyDeleteAt least he was polite even when you said no.
ReplyDelete