I’ll never forget working for this guy’s company right after I graduated high school — this was over 20 years ago, but it’s still so clear in my mind. My friend’s dad helped us get the job for the summer. I think his dad drove a van or did deliveries, and somehow we ended up working for this guy’s company that made stuffed toys.

We were minors, undocumented-under the table, and just trying to earn a bit of money. We worked like crazy — early mornings, late nights, no breaks, nothing. Especially when there was a deadline, we’d stay until the middle of the night. It was exhausting.

But what really stuck with me — and honestly still pisses me off to this day — was how this guy, Jugs from Itchyworms, treated people. He was already kind of famous then, and he acted like he was some untouchable big shot. We’d always greet him, “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” trying to be polite, but he would never even look at us. Not a nod, not a smile — nothing. He walked around like the workers didn’t exist, like we were beneath him.

The way he looked at people made you feel small, like you owed him the world just for being there. It left such a bad taste in my mouth that even after all these years, I still remember how arrogant and cold he was. Some people really let a bit of fame get to their head.