We’ve all been there: running late, rushing in, and needing the perfect excuse to make it seem like you were doing something important. Enter: Charlie Sheen, giving us the ultimate example of how to slide in late with zero shame.
In this iconic scene from Two and a Half Men, Charlie breezes in, casually tossing out:
“Sorry I’m late. I stopped off at Radio Barn, and wait till you see what I got.”
Like, okay, Charlie. What exactly is Radio Barn, and why are you bringing home what looks like a very questionable souvenir? But hey, it works. Because when you say it with that much confidence—and, let’s be honest, his delivery—everyone just buys it.
You don’t need to explain your lateness if you’ve got a story that sounds so absurdly random that they’re too busy wondering if Radio Barn is even a real place to question why you’re 30 minutes late.
Moral of the story?
If you’re going to be late, at least have a story that’ll make people laugh, and maybe they’ll forget the time you’ve wasted (or pretend to be impressed by whatever Radio Barn is).