Last time I was standing on the street waiting for my ride. That would be Ryan for those of you who don't know.
Around here, a big blue bag, a black tote bag and a plaid pillow say "speak to me!" to people passing by. I got a lot of smiles from all kinds of people and a few offers from some others. First there was the shabby looking guy who was trying to gather $2 to get back to his destination. I'm not sure where you can go on the train for $2 or maybe he already had the money or maybe he wanted to pop over to McDonalds for a snack, I can't be sure and I wasn't going to delve into the reasons he was asking strangers for money on the street.
I wasn't completely opposed to helping him out, but I didn't have any real money in my pocket and I learned my lesson through Tommy in New York. Never take out your wallet, if they see you have money that you aren't giving them the lady wearing nothing but a garbage bag will follow you down the street for at least three blocks. Your friends will be reluctant to get involved. Either way, I was pretty sure I had a quarter in my coat pocket It can't hurt right? So I tell him I have a quarter and it turns out it's a nickel. Okay, now that's jut cruel. I did around in my pocket to see if I can't find that quarter and eventually it turns up. I tell him I have 30 cents and offer him that. If you think about it, 30 cents is well on the way to $2.
But the exchange doesn't stop there. He thanks me and then decides that I'm so nice he wants to get to know me. Or maybe he's hoping I'll feel bad and give him more money? That's not nice. He asks me my name and for some reason I feel really uncomfortable giving my name to someone I'm never going to see again. I tell him it's Suzanne. He tells me his but I can't hear what he says, I feel a little bad about that. He asks if I'm married and I say no. Do I have a boyfriend? Yes. How long have you been together? I exaggerate, about 4 years. Ah, well thanks for the help. You have a blessed day. Uh.. thanks, you too! And good luck!
Chicago loves me, I can tell already.
In case I had any doubts, she proves it to me with the next exchange. A guy selling Streetwise on the street starts talking at me. First it starts with how cute I am, then damn, I'm sexy. I smile my thanks and say it must be my cold - nothing like sickness to make someone look sexy. He doesn't say anything for a few minutes and I think it's over.
I wait in silence and then he starts up again. I'm the kind of girl that makes it easy to be faithful. None of that messing around. He declares that he would work three jobs if he had too. If I were his. You know, to pay all my bills and take care of me. I'm wondering if he knows I have student loans. After reiterating how faithful he would be and how hard he would work he asks me if I have a boyfriend. Yes. Ah, I knew you did, how could you not? Again with the question of how long we've been together. It's more of a statement; I bet you've been together a long time. Five years? Close, I tell him, exaggerating again. 4.5.
This is a nice window for him to tell me that he's been with his girlfriend for 3 years. Well, his ex-girlfriend. She's still trying to get back together with him. That opens a lot of possibilities for what she's like. If the best guy that ever happened to her makes his living selling magazines on the street, she could be a really interesting person. This is also where God will strike me down for judging people I haven't even met.
Not only does his ex want to get back together with him, he needs bodyguards and a gun when he does see her because she's psycho. He has really good taste in women, I wonder what that says about me. God didn't strike me down, instead he felt sorry for me and Ryan arrived before I could become this guys personal therapist. Oh, I think that's my ride. Yeah, it is. Oh, is that your boyfriend. Yes, yes, he is! Uh, good luck, nice talking to you.
I should also mention that the guy pointed out that he was kidding several times, but only after he knew I had a boyfriend. Then again, who tries to take someone home from the train station when she is obviously waiting for someone else? Exchange numbers maybe? Not me, thanks.
In the next installment, some guy tries to convince me I'm Lady Luck, a grocery store confounds me with it's clever layout and Shannon arrives.