Originally Posted On Monday, October 10, 2005
I am completely dumbfounded and utterly speechless at this...Twice in the last 3 weeks, I have had a stranger ask me to borrow my mobile. I was so stunned the first time, that the first person decided against using it (Perhaps because my mouth was open in disbelief). Last night, while I was waiting for a bus ...I am sitting cross-legged on a bench reading a book...while not so patiently waiting for this bus...when a complete stranger walks up to me and puts his hand out towards me. I am not sure at this point what he wants... so I raise my head up to look at him and he says "Can I borrow your phone?" I thought I may have mistaken in what I heard him and he repeats the question. I had the mobile in my hand so I could check the time (as I forgot my watch yesterday). I proceed to hand my phone over to him (all the while telling myself that I am foolish for doing this), and he apologies for asking me to borrow it. He talks on the phone for about two minutes, and then hands me back my phone. Then he says "thank you". I know that I had the *stunned* look on my face. The one thing that I have learned over the years is that no matter how hard I try to cover them, the emotions that I am feeling show on my face (so much for ever playing poker). But that is a subject for another day...Back to the borrowing of the mobile.....I can understand if there is an accident or some sort of emergency where the person must absolutely use a phone or needs to reach someone. I have never been in that situation before but would hand my phone over in an instant. However, for a complete stranger to have the nerve (for a lack of a better word right now) to ask someone for their phone (to borrow)...instead of using a payphone just floors me. I would never walk up to a stranger and ask to borrow their phone (or any other item for that matter). Yet, others seem to think nothing of asking for a cigarette, lighter, matches (and I do not smoke), change, money, comb, lipstick, perfume...and I should no longer be shocked by this...but I still am. I have had strangers ask me for money so that they can buy a lottery ticket. I have had strangers insist on borrowing a lighter, and when I respond that I do not have one...they still persist. I then reply that I am a non-smoker. Occasionally, there are times when I feel that I should wear a button stating that I do not smoke...and only because some of these people are insist that I would have a cigarette or lighter on me. For all of those future strangers whom will insist I have a "smoke" or such...I DO NOT NOR HAVE I EVER SMOKED... I could possibly understand their persistence if they saw me smoking or using a lighter but to firmly insist on borrowing something that I do not have ...I am at a lost to comprehend...
posted by Mantaray Ocean at 1:33 PM 3 comments
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