They Stole My Dignity

About 4 years ago, when I was a young looking 27 year old, I was mugged and my wallet stolen. The next day, I was in need of cigarettes, and took my passport with me because I was frequently carded. I walked into a gas station with my shiner, waited for a long time in line, and the woman asked for ID. When I handed her my passport, she tossed it back to me and informed me that she does not accept passports as valid ID. I attempted to explain that the passport trumps the drivers license, but there was clearly no explaining it to her. I took another tactic by explaining that while I am glad that I look younger than thirty, but clearly I am not under 18. She explained that if I was over 18 I would have a drivers license. I explained that I was mugged the day before and pointed to my shiner. She responded “sucks to be you . . . Next customer!” This would normally have angered me, but with a nicotine fit and no cigarettes, I was incensed! But just stomped out of the establishment, and left my dignity at the counter.