"...and a packet of Sudafed, please Mr Pharmacist. Sorry? You want my name and address? For a packet of nasal decongestant?" Small voice. "Why?"
Immediately I look guilty. Maybe it's way he peers over the top of his dark rimmed bifocals, making me feel nine years old again, the whole class laughing at me when Mr Winward (God rest his soul) tried to confirm my d.o.b. as "the 10th of the 11th" and I didn't understand he meant the tenth day of the eleventh month; I kept reiterating "no, just the 10th Sir, not the 11th" and feeling so stupid, my cheeks burning with embarrassment, yet I was certain he had got it wrong. Standing up to a teacher such as Mr Winward wasn't done when I was small. He was old, old school.
"Why, madam, because of the all the pee, that's why?" My head whirls, pee, pee, pee. Nope. Not getting it. It's never had that effect on me. Ahhh does he mean the letter 'P'? Nope. Still not getting it. 'E' yes, everyone knows about the letter 'E' but this one, this is new. Guilty expression must have been replaced by stupid arse one as he goes on to explain, "It contains Phenylalanine which drug users extract to form a party pill and so we have to take the name and address of everyone asking for regular medicines with it in. Everyone's a suspect nowadays. Hardly any of this stuff left."
I duly give him my details then, to my utmost amazement, a voice comes from somewhere inside of me, one which should remain inside of me but spills forth and stupidly utters, "What's from stopping people giving you false details?" Oh for Christ's sake love - are you trying to make out you're a dealer??? He peers again. I hope he can't see me properly. He's my local chemist now. I shall be visiting him when I'm at my worst. It's not what I need. "Nothing," he replies, staring hard. "Just wondered," I cough, and hurry home clutching my little brown paper bag as if I really am a drugs runner, all the while thinking, "What does a chemist mean by party pills?"
"Here, yer drugs," I say to Mr Steve when I get home. "Have you heard of party pills?" "Yup," says Mr Steve, "they advertise them on the radio a lot. They are exactly what you're thinking but totally legal apparently. There are even party pill shops where you can go buy a few tabs for the weekend. Crazy isn't it?" and he slopes off to the bathroom with a pint of water and two tablets only to emerge 10 minutes later asking for Elton John dance floor remixes and blowing a whistle. Here is the disclaimer on one of the shop sites. First one I went to. Have a read and then tell me it doesn't addle yer brain! *manic grin*
Yet another side of New Zealand I've seen that they don't promote in the brochures. Now you know just why the Hobbits where so small.
- urban gypsy [8:22 am] |
ABOUT ME
i am... honest. loyal. selfless. controlling ... hobbies... listening to music. theatre. blog hopping ... reads... chick lit. glossy magazines ... listens to music like... 70's disco. motown. pop ...
WISHES FOR
`new house (in Oz)
`less housework
`new shoes
`less bills
`new knickers
`smooth, tanned, glowing skin
`digital camera
`an iPod nano
Laurice Solomon picture from
Getty Images edited using Adobe Photoshop CS2
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Urban Gypsy
30-odd year old mum of two
England - Saudi Arabia
- New Zealand
words__
When you run so fast to get somewhere
you miss the fun
of getting there.
Life is not a race,
so take it slower,
hear the music before the music is over, take your time and stay happy...
wishes for__
`new house (in Oz)
`less housework
`new shoes
`less bills
`new knickers
`smooth, tanned, glowing skin
`digital camera
`an iPod nano
