I smile habitually at people I don’t know, when making eye contact. When I’m tired or it’s raining, it’s like saying “Hey, yeah, you know, all in it together, hang tough.” Otherwise, it’s my version of “Hello! Don’t shoot.”
This morning at the bus stop:
| Harrassed-Looking Woman: |
“Excuse me. You got a cigarette?” |
| Me: | “No, I’m sorry.” |
| (HLW pauses, looks around, looks back) | |
| HLW: | “Makes you happy, doesn’t it? Makes you happy to refuse people.” |
| Me: | “No, I… don’t smoke.” |
| HLW: | “Then why you smiling like that? I’ll tell you why. It’s ’cause you’re an asshole.“ |
