I Was A Gas Station Attendant For A Day

While I was waiting for my country assignment with the United States Peace Corps, the girl whom I was visiting told me about a job opening as an attendant at the gas station just down the street. I said, "Oh no, that isn't something I could do." (My father had always maintained my vehicles, and I had never even put gas in a car before.) But she said, "Sure you can!" And I gave it a try, pumping gas, hand-washing windshields, and running the cash register for the little gas station. I lasted about a day before a shady guy drifted up to me, pointed to another shady guy loitering nearby and said, "See that guy over there? Well, he's planning to rob this station, and he's thinking about you too.". You don't have to tell me twice, I quit as soon as I could get a hold of the station owner. I dodged a bullet there, maybe literally.

I was once a gas station attendant.

collage by Annmarie Throckmorton, non-commercial internet use