Living in Canada and so close to the States, I have crossed the border many times for many different reasons and have had my share of stories to tell. I totally respect these officers jobs and am always a tad nervous when crossing, but I’ve never really done anything on purpose to tick them off even though sometimes I have gotten myself ino a bit of stormy waters. I’ll use this new category to relate some of these stories. One thing for sure, I’ve never tried to cross the border with any type of illegal objects or substance, and to this day don’t really understand those who try, but that’s not what this will be about.
For my first border story, I have chosen one when I was 25 years old, obviously old enough to know better, but stupid enough to not realize how easy one could piss off an officer trying to do his job.
At the time, I lived in Montreal, I was newly single and had decided to go to Williston, Vermont for my sister’s 29th birthday, which meant either taking the train, the bus, renting a car OR getting a ride with my sister who just happened to come to Quebec for some shopping. Perfect.
So on that Friday afternoon, I boarded a bus to my parents place, spend time with them and before dinner time, my sister and I got in her car and started the 1.5 hr drive to her home. From my parents home, the drive is perfectly parted in 2 by the border crossing, so 45 minutes to the border and then 45 minutes to her home after that. Easy peasy.
Since it was Syl’s birthday, I had gotten a few gifts which were perfectly and gayly wrapped as to hide the content of the gift boxes. We do like some surprises, right?. At the border, the officer at my sister’s window asked for our identification papers, where we were going, what was the purpose of the trip, what was our relationship AND if we were bringing items that would stay in the States.
She answered… and then I did…
I gave all the right and correct answers except when it came to “the gifts”. I said that I was bringing gifts but couldn’t tell him what they were because they were a surprise for my sister and she was right there in the car. Syl’s eyes grew 3 times their size and I think she shot lasers at me, although I can’t be quite sure, I did feel a burn.
Once again from his booth and through the driver’s window, the officer asked the same question and I gave the same answer… If possible, my sister’s eyes grew bigger… I started to sweat just a little.
The officer came out of the booth, walked all the way to my side of the car, my sister rolled the window down and with one hand resting on his gun, he looked at me and went:
Officer: I will ask you one last time. What are the gifts you are bringing?
Me: It really is a surprise for her
Syl: TELL HIM, TELL HIIIIIM
Me: Are you sure?
Syl: JUUUUST TEEEEEEELL HIIIIIIIM
Me: Ok, so it’s this silver necklace in the shape of a daisy with all the petals made out of amber.
Syl: (fingers in her ears, looking away)
Me: And I have this really nice decorative spray bottle she can put her perfume in and…
Officer: That’s it? That’s what you didn’t want to tell me?
Me: Well, it is supposed to be a surprise… there’s some clothes as well.
Officer: (looking at me blankly, took his hand off the gun, walked back to his booth and then speaking to my sister) Happy birthday.
I don’t think my sister and I talked for the next 15 or 20 minutes of the drive… and slowly, the laser went away.