Old Enough To Know Better To Not Let Go

(It should be noted that I am 18, but I am small for my age and I look a lot younger than I am. I am sitting around the corner of a gas station, smoking, waiting for my friend to finish filling up her car. A customer comes out of the store and approaches me.)

Customer: “Hey, do you have another smoke?”

Me: “Yeah, sure.”

(I pull the box out of my pocket and, being polite, offer for him to take one out of the box.)

Customer: “Are you old enough to smoke? Are you twenty-one or eighteen or however old you have to be?”

Me: “Um, yes. I’m 18.”

Customer: *tries to take the whole pack from me* “You’re not old enough to smoke! You don’t look old enough!”

Me: *holding tightly to the nearly full pack* “I can assure you that I am old enough.”

Customer: *gives up and finally only takes one cigarette* “You’re not old enough!”

(I sigh in relief as he starts to walk away.)

Customer: *yelling from down the street* “You’re not old enough!”