juliana

So this dude honks at me from parallel parking his car off Shattuck. First he starts with light honks, and since it's coming from behind me, I figure it's someone picking up a friend. But then louder and more insistent, so it feels like maybe someone I know wants to say hi, and I don't want to be a scared bitch so I turn around and see what's up.

It's just some dude. I don't know him. He waves me over, and I'm like, wtf, Maybe he's lost. As I'm walking up, I kick my chin up in inquiry. Eh, whatchu want?

He rolls down his windows and shrugs. 'I just wanted to say hi ...'

'Yeah?' The hell, dude. Nice fro.

'Yeah. Why you look mad?' Craning his neck out the passenger side.

'Cos I don't know you. What's up?' I couldn't help but smirk in return. 'I thought maybe you needed help parking or something.'

'You know how to park?' Gestures with arms that say Be My Guest.

'No. Not this car.'

'Hell naw!' He busts into a laugh as I'm walking away. I imagine his fist covering his mouth in standard thug-style glee. Calling out, "Come back and talk to me a minute."

'Nah, I gotta get back to work! Later!' Like I'll catch up with him after recess. How you talk to good school friends.

'Awww ...' He must have been grinning.

Never in my life have I accidentally ended up flirting with some dude who called me from the street. He wasn't even cute. But by some bizarre magic, I had the most engaging 5 minutes of my day right then and there.

I smiled again as I ducked out into my garage shortcut, and made my way back to work.