I never got used to people calling me "sir"
Went to the drugstore to get my meds. I like to walk, I seldom see other pedestrians on the way. If I do, pleasantries are rarely exchanged and I'm fine with that. From far down the road I could see an unfamiliar figure lurking near the entrance of the store. At a distance I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman. Although wearing sunglasses and seeming to avoid staring at me straight on, I felt as though I were being sized up.
I got closer and it was a tall, thin white girl wrapped in an old hoodie standing in the shade and looking kind of lost. Hands in pockets. Shoulders hunched wearily. The wind was gusting but she didn't sway. Walking past, I casually looked her way out of the corner of my eye to read her. She didn't notice, or pretended not to. I almost said hello, but quickly decided against it. In retrospect, maybe I was the one trying to ignore her.
Inside the drugstore, the decorations were up and exceedingly red and white. Someone was whistling an off-key christmas carol somewhere out of sight. I would've headed for the liquor aisle if they still had one. They don't make me wait long for my prescription, so I try not to be a jerk. I do a little light reading, Handguns Magazine, the Enquirer. Sometimes I power nap. In the old days I would've wandered 'round the back and smoked a bowl.
15 minutes later, I'm leaving and the girl is still standing in the same place. When I paused outside to pocket the meds, she approached me. She was standing beside me, facing me, I turned away slightly. Not-so-subtle body language expressing FUCK OFF. Never actually looking directly at her, I couldn't tell you exactly what she looked like. She spoke softly and politely, in a manner in which young women generally don't address me.
"Excuse me sir. I'm homeless and I'm trying to raise money for food and shelter..." She probably said something else but I honestly didn't listen to the rest of it. I almost invited her to lunch, which is where I was headed next anyway. I thought better of it. While I dug around in my pocket for a few seconds I began to squint against the glaring sunlight, involuntarily looking pissed. But I felt a resigned sadness for the both of us. I quietly handed the girl about $3 change. She thanked me and I said something like "no problem". I walked off, and she returned to her post.
Went to the drugstore to get my meds. I like to walk, I seldom see other pedestrians on the way. If I do, pleasantries are rarely exchanged and I'm fine with that. From far down the road I could see an unfamiliar figure lurking near the entrance of the store. At a distance I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman. Although wearing sunglasses and seeming to avoid staring at me straight on, I felt as though I were being sized up.
I got closer and it was a tall, thin white girl wrapped in an old hoodie standing in the shade and looking kind of lost. Hands in pockets. Shoulders hunched wearily. The wind was gusting but she didn't sway. Walking past, I casually looked her way out of the corner of my eye to read her. She didn't notice, or pretended not to. I almost said hello, but quickly decided against it. In retrospect, maybe I was the one trying to ignore her.
Inside the drugstore, the decorations were up and exceedingly red and white. Someone was whistling an off-key christmas carol somewhere out of sight. I would've headed for the liquor aisle if they still had one. They don't make me wait long for my prescription, so I try not to be a jerk. I do a little light reading, Handguns Magazine, the Enquirer. Sometimes I power nap. In the old days I would've wandered 'round the back and smoked a bowl.
15 minutes later, I'm leaving and the girl is still standing in the same place. When I paused outside to pocket the meds, she approached me. She was standing beside me, facing me, I turned away slightly. Not-so-subtle body language expressing FUCK OFF. Never actually looking directly at her, I couldn't tell you exactly what she looked like. She spoke softly and politely, in a manner in which young women generally don't address me.
"Excuse me sir. I'm homeless and I'm trying to raise money for food and shelter..." She probably said something else but I honestly didn't listen to the rest of it. I almost invited her to lunch, which is where I was headed next anyway. I thought better of it. While I dug around in my pocket for a few seconds I began to squint against the glaring sunlight, involuntarily looking pissed. But I felt a resigned sadness for the both of us. I quietly handed the girl about $3 change. She thanked me and I said something like "no problem". I walked off, and she returned to her post.
elicit77:
I sometimes get irked when someone calls me 'sir'. I especially get irked when someone is trying to sell me something and is constantly calling me 'sir'. Its like nails on a chalkboard.