What ever happened to “don’t talk to strangers”? When my
parents taught me this, I figured I was to follow it for the rest of my life.
But it seems like the older I get, the more likely I am to be approached by
strangers who just want to chat casually. And I can’t figure out what makes
these greasy 50-year-old men and jittery 13-year-old girls want to talk to
me.
[Looking at Halloween costumes at Party City]
Tween: I don’t understand why they don’t include the shoes
in the costume.
Me: Hm. [Quickly starts to walk away]
Tween: [Sprints to catch up] What are you gonna be for
Halloween?
Me: I don’t know. [Long pause, followed by a sigh] What are you going to be?
Tween: I don’t know. I was thinking about this costume, or
this one, or this one too, but I also like this one.
This continues for what feels like half an hour, while I
continue to grow more and more impatient. Finally, I just walk away and let her
finish talking to herself.
Seriously, you never know who has a chainsaw in their
pocket. I just wish I could show these friendly strangers once and for all that
I’m not interested in talking to them.
Anyone have a chainsaw I could borrow? You know, just for
the effect.
