A Blockbuster Late Fee ?!

If you meander a ways down the the street from our flats, past the Boot's Pharmacy, TescoExpress and The Robert Browning Pub, there can be found a wonderous store with a glowing sign of blue and yellow: Blockbuster!

The roomies and I rent movies there every week or so...it's oddly comforting to have an American TV show like 'Ugly Betty' or 'Scrubs' playing in the background as we study and write our papers. But unlike back home, the Brits still believe in late fees, and they seem to have a twisted sense of humor: I know they're laughing from watching the befuddled faces of hapless Americans who asume every title is available for a seven day rental.

New releases are either rented for one night, or two. BUT if you get two or three films together, you can keep them for a week. New TV series rental rates are so confusing I can't even describe it.

So, whilst I collected change from the roomies and trudged down to the Blockbuster to pay the 5 pound (that's like 10 freakin' dollars!!) late charge on 'Disturbia,' I met an old friend. Erm...or new friend I suppose. I don't know his name, but I call him "Movie Guy." He's this big guy; he looks Hawaiian or something. Anyway, he seems to dig Americans. We've had some pretty interesting conversations. Follow:

Meeting 1:

Movie Guy (MG): Um, you have a late fee on 'The Simpson's Movie.'

Elise: *quizzical look* But I turned in all the movies we rented in one go. And they were all on time.

Monica: Yes, they were.

MG: *shrugs* Ok, I'll let you off the hook this time.

Elise, Monica and Marika: *all smiles*

MG: *happy he made girls smile*

Elise: *looks to the side of the checkout counter and notices hollow chocolate eggs with Shrek 2 toys inside* That looks interesting.

MG: You should try one. They're really good.

Elise: Really?

MG: I dunno. I'm just really curious to see what's inside.

Marika: *smiles* We should get one.

Elise: Ok. *buys one*

MG: You have to open it right now.

Elise: *hands egg to Monica* It's all yours.

MG: Don't be shy!

Monica: *unwraps and bites egg. She pulls out a small, plastic capsule* Ew. It looks like a turd.

All: *laugh*

Monica: *opens egg and pulls out Prince Charming*

All: Awwwwwww!

Meeting 2:

Elise: Ok...I'm here to turn these movies in and pay the late fee. *pulls out coin purse and dumps a small mountain of coins on the table*

MG: Oh no.

Elise: *smiles* I'm your new best friend! *starts counting money*

MG: American?

Elise: *nods* Californian.

MG: Ah! I definately got the Cali vibe from you. (<--He was totally serious.)

Elise: *blank stare* No one has ever said that to me.

MG: *smiles*

Elise: Dang it... *does not have enough change* (<--And it took me like 10 mins to count it all out, too!)

MG: That sucks. You don't have to pay it now, you know, but I was kind of getting excited.

Elise: I guess I'll just use this then. *pulls out 5 pound note*

MG: And the tables turn!

Elise: *confused*

MG: So...how much is a dime?

Elise: 10 cents.

MG: *blank stare*

Elise: Erm...well, I guess that'd be 10 pense for you, but since everything is double here, a dime would equal 5 pense. Back home a nickel is 5 cents....and you have 2 pense coins. (<--I actually managed to say that.)

MG: *blank stare*

Elise: Back home we don't have dollar coins or two dollar coins. I'm just not used to using all this change. It equals so much. It's valuable!

Man in line behind me: *coughs trying to hide laughter*

MG: Heck, the coins confuse me and I've lived here my entire life.

Elise: *smiles and starts to leave*

MG: I'll see you again soon.

Elise: *frozen smile* Ok...

=D He makes me laugh. Maybe I'll go buy another one of the Shrek chocolate eggs just for the heck of it!