This morning, I was woken up four hours too early (8 a.m.) and told by my parents that I had to accompany them to work today, since one of their cashiers had taken the day off. So, here I am, back in the car garage, back on this laptop.

I was considering starting another log, but I’m fairly sure nothing interesting will happen today. In fact, while working at a gas station, one’s options for entertainment are surprisingly limited. There’s:

- eating beef jerky till your tongue goes numb
- drinking various Starbucks products till the voices stop (or start again)
- playing Lotto Scratchers till there’s a mountain of rubbings on the counter
- throwing said rubbings into the air and screaming “it’s raining rubbings!” (how often do you get to say that?)
- sniffing the cigarette cartons till you pass out

Speaking of cigarettes, since I’ve just recently turned legal and all that, I’ve gone from “general shop lackey” to “cigarette runner”. Yes, truly, the most entertaining part of my day has to be seeing the looks on cashiers’ faces when I bring up a bundle of cigarette cartons to the counter. Here’s an example conversation:

Me: Hiya! Three cartons of Marlboro Lights, please.
Cashier: Uh, are you 18?
Me: Yep! Are Virginia Slims on sale?
Cashier: Er, are you sure? Can I see your I.D.?
Me: Sure! [shows him]
Cashier: Ah, eh, I’ll have to talk to my manager.

So after I’ve convinced everyone that yes, despite looking almost thirteen I am of legal buying age, and no, I’m not an Asian drugrunner, I get back to my parents’ gas station. At which point I’m told to return them all, because apparently they weren’t as low in stock as they think they were. But could I buy this brand of cigarettes instead? What a good son.

Anyhoo, if you’re driving through Huntington Beach and see a Mobil gas station with a garage, stop (yes, in the middle of the street) and take a look. If you happen to see a out-of-place-lookin’ and rather skinny boy tapping away on a laptop in that garage, please, come up and pound on the window.

It’ll entertain him for a few minutes.