Operation: Corner Store
This was about two weeks before the 25th. It was 9 something pm and it was cold. I decided to go get some bread and mineral water from the corner store for the ham and cheese we had at home. It is only two blocks away, and you walk AGAINST traffic on the way there. At the street light which is exactly half-way there, this car is pulling up to the red as I walk by. As it comes to a stop, I notice the driver side reading light come on and the driver(female), reaches to the back seat. Her kids are back there, two of them. A baby and a toddler. She is attending to them for whatever reason.
Well, with that reading light illuminating her side of the car, I can't help but notice that she is very hot. What can I say? She was pretty, her jacket was unzipped, and she was very "fit". Nice. As I'm checking her out, I was completely unaware that there was someone in the passenger seat. And here we go.
Don't know if it was her boyfriend, her husband, or her brother, whatever the hell. What I do know for sure is that he was your cliche Mexican gangster. Shaved head, tatted up, and most importantly, dangerously reckless. And with the misguided attitude of a punk kid whist half of his body is sticking out the window, he yells at me, "Que onda homes! Que pinche rollo!". Which from pachuco slang, translates into, "Eh man, what the fuck you looking at!". I just kept calm, and kept walking. Made no eye contact.
As I went about my errand, I kept thinking to myself, "What the fuck dude? What complete disregard for himself and more importantly, his family". I mean, he was a small guy. A 'hardcore' cholo, but small nonetheless. His head didn't even reach the top of the headrest! Then to pick fights with strangers on the street with his girl and possibly his kids in the car? I'm 5'11, 230lbs, wearing a hoodie sweater with the hood on, cargo pants, you don't know what I might have on me! Oh, and did I mention I'm a complete stranger on the street at night, who's face you can't see?! How was he so sure this big dude with plenty of places to hide shit wasn't gonna call him on his front? So close to Christmas too. Wow, my mind was pretty hyped. But outside, I was still very calm.
But on the way back, I started getting paranoid. Especially because you walk WITH traffic. Having grown up in this barrio, I was ready for anything. Step up to me, and you ain't gonna have it easy. Paranoid thoughts. "Are they driving around the block?". "Are they coming up behind me?". Every time headlights were showing me my shadow, I thought to myself, "Is my shadow the last thing I'm gonna see?". Shit if something went down, and least step up to my face. Give me a freaking chance. Ridiculous shit like this happened all the time. Like the time some poor guy in the movie theater got shot in the back of his head cause he had the nerve to tell the wrong people to stop being so rowdy. It's stupid to think you're an exception from random, pointless crap like that. Like getting shot at for looking at the wrong guy's girlfriend. Yeah, that's never happened before. Paranoid thoughts. But outside, calm. Like a bomb.
Thankfully, nothing happened. Those two blocks were pretty long though. Moral of the story: Stay safe out there people. Keep clear of people and places you know you are supposed to. You never know what you might set off.
On a brighter note: To any of you who are reading this, Happy New Year! May it be filled with good health and success. I hope you achieve all your goals. Take care.
