The Nice Thing About Strangers
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
Watching the Watcher
“If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes,” the lady says conspiratorially when she approaches me at a crosswalk. I chuckle as a sign of pedestrian solidarity. I’ve heard the same thing in Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado, but I suppose it could be the case almost anywhere. She beams from under her hat and scarf, “My light!” And she moves at the permission of the signal in the direction where I’m not headed. “Just perfect timing,” she remarks as she goes, stepping over a heap of snow and into the street. She carries her cup of coffee like it is an egg on a spoon.
I watch her as she crosses, grinning to myself. A middle-aged male driver waiting on the light studies my reaction to the lady. In weather like this, a smile is an act of rebellion, so I offer one to my observer as well. I receive a little wave from him–his fingers moving like playing scales on his steering wheel–as I wait for my turn to move along.
–Vermont.
Vienna, Austria.
The Nice Thing About Strangers 
I can just picture the scene
I’m still shivering from being out in this cold and wind. At least people are kind when it’s frigid! 🙂
Paige
Such a classic Vermont saying, or maybe New England. Love the photo!