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Mamapolo2016 · F
Depends on the setting. I try not to add to the hostility around us, but now and then, I just call ‘em as I see ‘em.
About ten years ago when I was a fresh blushing rose of only 64, a friend and I were browsing in a little strip mall composed of candle and embroidery shops, a place that sold ‘spiritual crystals’ and the like.
My friend wanted a cigarette and we went out to sit on a bench so she could.
A man who looked like he’d had some rough rides on his Harley came bouncing up on the balls of his feet, like a boxer. He said to my friend, “Gimme a smoke, wouldja? I’m all out.”
She handed one to him and he said, “Gimme a damn light. WTF am I gonna do with a cig and no light?”
And THEN I think he thought he was starting a conversation. He started griping about how almost everyone around us was Hispanic, only he didn’t phrase it that way. Every second word was a racial slur, even though my friend who had just given him a smoke was Hispanic. I am clearly, fluorescently white, so he addressed me.
He started yapping about how he was just coming back from a white power ‘retreat.’ And I lost my head, because I was 64 and not afraid to die.
I said, “I thought you yahoos never retreated.”
He was too surprised or confused to answer immediately and my friend and I stood up. It appeared he was going to follow us until he thought of something to say. I said, “If you take one step closer, we’re going to scream bloody murder and accuse you of everything we can think of. I’m sure you’ve done most of them.”
He must have had warrants, so he disappeared. Truly, I’m glad I wasn’t armed.
But mostly I just walk away.
About ten years ago when I was a fresh blushing rose of only 64, a friend and I were browsing in a little strip mall composed of candle and embroidery shops, a place that sold ‘spiritual crystals’ and the like.
My friend wanted a cigarette and we went out to sit on a bench so she could.
A man who looked like he’d had some rough rides on his Harley came bouncing up on the balls of his feet, like a boxer. He said to my friend, “Gimme a smoke, wouldja? I’m all out.”
She handed one to him and he said, “Gimme a damn light. WTF am I gonna do with a cig and no light?”
And THEN I think he thought he was starting a conversation. He started griping about how almost everyone around us was Hispanic, only he didn’t phrase it that way. Every second word was a racial slur, even though my friend who had just given him a smoke was Hispanic. I am clearly, fluorescently white, so he addressed me.
He started yapping about how he was just coming back from a white power ‘retreat.’ And I lost my head, because I was 64 and not afraid to die.
I said, “I thought you yahoos never retreated.”
He was too surprised or confused to answer immediately and my friend and I stood up. It appeared he was going to follow us until he thought of something to say. I said, “If you take one step closer, we’re going to scream bloody murder and accuse you of everything we can think of. I’m sure you’ve done most of them.”
He must have had warrants, so he disappeared. Truly, I’m glad I wasn’t armed.
But mostly I just walk away.
