Breaking the Law

I've inadvertently left supermarkets with unpaid items a few times since we've been here. Twice it happened when I had little AC in her "big" stroller, which has a basket under the seat. I like this stroller because it has a tray for her snacks while we shop, and if she falls asleep, it reclines. Additionally--and most importantly--it's the easiest way to carry the items for which I am shopping. But if I take more reusable bags than I need, stuff can hide! Once, I was trying to rush and left a jar of pasta sauce in there! Another time, little AC was in a regular shopping cart, and the cashier was so smitten with her that even though she had all 3 items on the conveyor belt, she only charged me for 2 items! I have felt so guilty when I get home but cannot bring myself to go back.

In a different case, we were breaking the law unknowingly. We were driving along a street in a bad neighborhood and all of a sudden, there were two motorcycle cops standing in the right lane. I thought they were diverting traffic, but one pointed at our car and yelled "Pull over!" I looked at AC and said, "Did I interrupt a funeral procession or something?" (The cops were wearing white straps crisscrossed over their dark uniforms, straps like the kind I used to wear as hall monitor in elementary school.) The cop walked over to us and demanded, "Where's your sticker?" and pointed at the windshield. AC and I looked at each other blankly, before we stammered, "S-sorry officer, we just moved from California--what sticker are you talking about?" He said, "You have them out there too! You know, your inspection sticker." AC said, "Do you mean for smog inspection? We don't have stickers back home, it's just reflected on the registration." The cop looked puzzled at this point, but regained his tough attitude and asked for license and registration. He pointed out on the registration that it said "If this is a newly acquired vehicle, inspection must be performed within 7 days of registration." I said, "Newly acquired--this car was bought in 1999!" He stormed off and came back with the ticket and said, "If you want to appeal it the instructions are on the back." And with that, the ordeal was over. Turns out that "newly acquired" means "newly acquired into Massachusetts." Luckily, the ticket was only $50, and unlike California, you can pay it without fixing the infraction first. So we finally fixed the problem last week...about a month and a half after the ticket was given.

Did I mention the cop was wearing a do-rag? What cop wears a do-rag?!