My Run-In With the Law

[John Weagly]

I work one day a week at World Market. For those of you that don’t know, World Market is a fine purveyor of… well, you name it. They sell pillows, furniture, picture frames, jalapeno-filled olives, eggbeaters and practically everything else under the sun.

Another thing they purvey is alcohol, beer and wine to be precise.

Last week, this guy came up to my register with a bottle of champagne. I rang it up and asked for his ID (general practice, WE CARD HARD!). He handed me a Driver's License which clearly showed he was under 21 (they're vertical instead of horizontal). I told him I couldn't sell him the bottle and he said, "It's for me and my girlfriend." (I guess he was told to try to talk the cashier into it. He didn't try very hard). I told him I was sorry and he left.

A minute later, these two guys came up and asked to see the manager. I asked if there was anything I could help them with and they flashed their badges. Evanston Police Department! I called the GM and while we were waiting they said, "Good job, John. You didn't sell to a minor."

That was the first thing to throw me, how did they know my name? That led to "How do they know so much about me?" and "Am I in trouble for something else?" and "How long have they been watching me?" Then I remembered I had a name tag on.

They talked to the manager and left. No problems at all.

The whole rest of the night I was twitchy. Even though I did exactly what we're supposed to do, it was disconcerting knowing that the police were trying to catch me at something, that I was their target. What else were they watching for? Did they know about that thing I did back in ’85? How long until I was behind bars for who knew what?

So let this be a lesson to all of you out there, whether you’re hairstylists or construction workers or whatever else under the sun. If someone asks you to sell them a bottle of champagne and they look under 21… DON’T DO IT!

[Mari Sloan]

Other Good Advice.....

Never ride with your fellow employees to across LA training sessions if they are drinkers, either. Important safety tip--one cup of coffee does not negate 3 tequila sunrises and spitting chewing tobacco out an open car door over the Deckor Rd. Pass is a bit too much excitement. It doesn't help that between wads the drunk spitter reminds you that he "used to be a police officer" and the driver tells you she "almost feels sober". Life is just too short and looking shorter, at that point.