RESURRECT DEAD ON PLANET JUPiTER

Awkward Conversations

Last week I’m sitting at the bus stop at 10th and Market. It’s about 8:15 and the bus is 5 minutes late. A woman standing at the stop turns to me and says something negative about having to wait. I’m tired and acknowledge her small complaint with a cursory expression of sympathetic recognition. Then she adds:

“And I only have 2 blocks to go. But I’m not walking. I do enough walking at work.”

Judging by the colorful, patterned polyester suit, she was an office worker. I struggled, but couldn’t find a single word in response. I went back to reading the Metro.