The Age-Old Problem

(Two women who look to be in their late-20s to early-30s come in to buy tickets for an R-rated movie. Since company policy is to ask for ID for customers who look under 25, and they both look quite a bit older, I don’t bother asking for ID.)

Customer #1: “Just out of curiosity, why didn’t you ID us? Nobody here ever IDs us.”

Me: “Oh, well, as long as guests look over a certain age, we usually don’t ask.”

(A grim look grows across Customer #1’s face as she turns to Customer #2.)

Customer #2: “I know I don’t wanna hear the answer, but how old is that age?”

Me: “25.”

Customer #1: “Ok, I know I REALLY don’t wanna hear the answer to this, but how old do you think we look?”

Me: *feeling bad* “Oh, I dunno… 24 or 25. Right around the limit.”

(Both girls look disheartened and pull out their ID’s. One has only JUST turned 18 and the other is only 19.)

Customer #1: “I should have figured. Anytime there’s a party, our friends send us to get booze since nobody at the liquor stores IDs us, either.”

Me: *feeling like the biggest jerk on the planet and not knowing what to say* “Well… at least there’s that, huh?”