Spent another afternoon of wandering about, beginning at a mausoleum and ending at one of my favorite supermarkets so I could grab up some TV dinners. Ah the single’s life.
One of the places I stopped at was a newly renovated playground so I could hunt for a micro-sized geocache. I quickly found the cache, then sat down to rest for a few minutes. I noticed one black woman was nearby but I assumed she was just passing through. Although I was beginning to get a bad feeling, and sure enough:
“Hi, mister, what are you doing?”
“Ummm, nothing much, just taking a walk around.”
“Are you waiting for someone?”
“Me? Nah.”
I made a show of working on my iPod, hoping she would soon go away.
“You look lonely, would you like some company?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine really.” I took out my water bottle and took a few swipes.
“It’s ok if you’re lonely, if you want we can come back to my place and I’ll take good care of you.”
I almost spit out my drink.
“…um, no that’s ok, I’m fine, really.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m definitely sure, thanks though.”
“Ok, if you ever change your mind, I’ll be around sweetie.”
“Um, thanks, have a nice day.”
“Bye!”
She slowly walked away, and I made a show of using my iPod like it was a cell phone, all while keeping an eye out for her until she was really gone. Then I raced back to my car and hauled out of there faster than a bullet train leaves Tokyo.
Children’s playground too. Really?
Seriously dudes, just because I’m by myself in a park does not mean I’m lonely… ok it does, but that’s not the point. One of the reasons I like geocaching is because it’s one of the few activities you can enjoy on your own, unlike say, tennis. There are so many activities that are designed with more than one person in mind that it’s nice to finally have a hobby such as this one that doesn’t require me to have a social life before I can begin to enjoy it.
That’s why encounters like these annoy me. I’m getting accosted (twice in one week now!) because I’m a young dude who’s always by himself, so somehow I must fit the profile. A single who’s always getting a table for one, who’s always by himself, who never has anyone to keep him company becomes a target, if not for this then probably for worst things (much easier to mug one person than it is a group.) This world does seem to try awfully hard to make it feel like there’s something wrong with me for always being alone. But that’s who I am. I’m not a social butterfly. I don’t make friends, I make enemies, but I’m perfectly fine with that. It’s the hand that I’ve been dealt with and I learned to live with it.
That said, I think I’m gonna need a dog though. A mean, vicious looking dog. And a shotgun.
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Don’t worry Linc…She probably charged more than she was worth anyway! ;;)
Like the real estate market, everything has been overvalued. ;)
The trick is in the second question. When they ask, “Are you waiting for someone”, instead of responding no, you say:
“Yup. A couple of the guys from my precinct wanted to go out for a few beers tonight after we got off duty. I’m just waiting for them to clock out.”
Trust me, that will pretty much kill that conversation and anyone like it quite nicely.
Best advice ever!