Hey, pst, over here.

What black market did kids at your school run?

I used to deal in whiteboard markers for teachers in high school.

One teacher had a tendency to hoard them, leaving none for other teachers.

I would take markers from him and provide them to other teachers in need.

While there was no formal payment, I was given a little bit more leniency

at times, e.g. request to lead the classroom for a moment. Once the marker would start squealing

on the whiteboard because it was almost empty, I get teachers giving me a nod as to say,

you got the goods. I'd then supply them with the marker color of their choosing, usually black.

It was actually a lot of fun, and I never heard teachers talk about my systems or chastise me

for taking markers.

I was in elementary school when pogs were big.

Everyone had cool slammers and stuff, but I didn't have money for good ones.

My dad made one out of half-inch mild steel for me and used an engraving

pen to make a simple pattern. Everyone was asking me where I got them from. I didn't want to

lose my unfair edge, but I also knew I could make money. My dad had a big sheet of this half-inch

steel. I told them I was the only one who could get them. I sold them for 15 bucks a pop.

My dad kept 10. I got 5. And that's when I learned what overhead was. I went to a private high school with a strict

dress code, ties, belt, etc. So, I bought a bunch of ties and belts from a thrift store and ran a

lucrative rental business out of my locker.

Locker accessories such as carpets and magnets.

Carpets?

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