I really should try walking everywhere, but then I wouldn't get to meet so many interesting people. Especially that talking-too-loud-on-her-cellphone babe, recently out of drug rehab who's dating the 98-pound weakling. Ah, those were good times.

So today I braved the awesome, sunny weather for a jaunt to the drug store. No, I did not run into cellphone babe or the 98-pound weakling there.

I did, however, run into someone already at the bus stop. Since I had my movie-star sunglasses on, I couldn't really tell who it was, only that a person-sized shape leaned on the pole.

"Do you have a light?" the woman asked.

I peeked over the top of my sunglasses. An unlit cigarette dangled from her lips.

"I don't smoke," I replied.

"That's not what I asked." She took a step toward me. "Do you have a light?"

"Sorry." I shook my head. "I don't really have a need to set things on fire."

Okay, maybe it was a snarky comment, and, as a former smoker, I could have shown a little compassion for the woman, who was obviously having a nic fit.

Luckily, she didn't pull a knife and leave me bleeding onto my bus pass. She laughed so hard her smoke dropped from her mouth. It rolled a foot before she picked it up and slipped it back into her pack.

"Funny," she said, "you looked like a pyromaniac to me."

I had to give her points for that great comeback.

Labels: