Originally posted: December 02, 2003
I had sort of a morbid thought the other night as I was trudging through the cold on my way to the Marta bus stop. I have to walk down this creepy-ass dark road to get there (and also to get to the only Watering Hole in walking distance from my house), and I spotted someone in the dark distance walking in my direction…
It’s unlikely, but a lot could potentially happen here.
So, like I said, I have to walk down this crappy sidewalk – on one side of me there’s a busy street, on the other is a big long hill with overgrown weeds. There’s no street lights. I have to walk under a couple overpasses. It’s loud, dark, and really, a perfect place to get mugged. Well, ok, except for the relative safety of those assholes speeding by in their cars and honking for no reason.
So, I’m walking down the sidewalk around 9:00pm and it’s cold and dark and, for some reason tonight, it’s quiet. In the distance, coming towards me is another solo walking figure. I begin to get kinda creeped out as I walk closer to this person. I can’t tell if it’s male or female at this point, but I’m guessing it’s male, cause a female would be really nuts to be walking down this street at this time.
It dawns on me that this figure walking up to me could be a mugger, a murderer, a rapist, a commie, anything. It also dawns on me that, to this figure, I could be any of the above.
And, in this stranger’s defense, if you saw a crazy long-haired weirdo walking alone down a dark street, your first thought wouldn’t be “aahh, probably a corporate computer programmer.”
So really, what this stranger and I were doing was playing Wallet Chicken. Either one of us could be a mugger (or worse) and either one of us could soon become a victim. And the dark isolated street would be the perfect accomplice. And there was really nothing to do but keep walking. Can’t turn around and go home. So you play Wallet Chicken.
And hope you’re not the one to lose a wallet.
Eventually the figure and I are within detailed sight of each other. Neither one of us happens to be wearing a Priest’s outfit, so neither one of us is any less dangerous at this point. We give each other a brief nod and continue on our way.
I take a quick glance back to make sure he’s not following me now. I’m sure he does the same thing at some point.
I safely continue on my way to my destination. He does the same.
Well, no losers in the particular game of Wallet Chicken. That’s good. I guess we’ll see what happens next time.
