You Look 10.
Last week of school (5th form, some leaving, some staying for 2 years of 6th form), form tutor takes out whole class for meal in Stockport. We were all 15-16. Some of the kids in the class looked older and had could get into to pubs and get served, some us were little and seriously couldnt. Me? Never tried. I was about to find out.

After the meal, the bigger kids went off to the pub they had been going to for a while. They even knew the bouncers. Us smaller lot, about 5 of us spoddy lads thought we'd try our luck. We took a collective breath, pushed open the door.

Our classmates were playing pool with a couple of bouncers. They all stopped to look at us. We stood in the doorway, peering into the smoky room. Every single person in the room started to piss themselves laughing. One of the bouncers said, quite loudly in the middle of all this; "come on mate, how old are you? You look 10.".

The laughing could still be heard from 100 metres away as we sloped back to the train station.

Nothing prepared for me for the next day. As i walked to school, it was apparent, even a mile away that this was the greatest story that ever went round. Even the first years were sniggering. As I walked through the school yard, the sniggering had turned into full on chanting "YOU LOOK 10! YOU LOOK 10!". Jesus christ. Even the teachers knew. I finally arrived in my classroom, as I opened the door it was clear that this had been the only topic of conversation all morning. The cheering and shouting was unbelievable.

In my defense, I did very well. I laughed along with all of it. There was no other way to deal. Someone else might have been utterly traumatised to be ridiculed by an entire school for days. I suppose I've never forgotten, but to be honest, it wasnt bad. So i didnt get served when i was underage, meh.

The most devasting insult ever? Not really. But the most memorable for me.
( I have run out of coke is a little sweaty, Thu 4 Oct 2007, 17:32, Reply)