They'll Sell Anything, To Anyone...
Well, I'm back looking for used music and stopping at pawn shops and as I'm approaching the store front, I see a man walking briskly on the other side of the street. It occurs to me that I should hurry and get inside the store because I'm too used to strangers approaching me and this looked all too familiar.
Oh so right... He sees me and changes directions, making a beeline for my position. I knew I wasn't going to make it inside the store in time. What do I do? Should I run and make it obvious I don't want the interaction. It's a split second decision and I waited a split second too long. He comes up carrying this box which, as he comes closer, I recognize as a carton of cigarettes.
He says, "Hey, man, you think you could do me a favor and take these cigarettes off my hands? I really need the money."
It's well known that I am allergic to cigarette smoke. My eyes turn red and feel like they're going to pop out of my head. My throat closes up and it's hard for me to swallow or breath. I become nauseous even being around someone that has smoked recently, let alone when they are smoking at that exact moment. My body can detect the slightest presence of smoke even if it's on, or should I say embedded in, someone's clothing. Breath mints don't really help disguise the presence on someone's breath because it's not the displeasurable breath that displeases my body as much as it is the exhalation of processed nicotine. Extended exposure makes me quite sick and even gives me a migraine. And, no, I've never actually smoked. I imagine I would have to be hospitalized if I ever decided to brave the pain.
So, did I buy his cigarettes? I think not.
And, no, I didn't explain to him why...
No Really,
AWChris
Oh so right... He sees me and changes directions, making a beeline for my position. I knew I wasn't going to make it inside the store in time. What do I do? Should I run and make it obvious I don't want the interaction. It's a split second decision and I waited a split second too long. He comes up carrying this box which, as he comes closer, I recognize as a carton of cigarettes.
He says, "Hey, man, you think you could do me a favor and take these cigarettes off my hands? I really need the money."
It's well known that I am allergic to cigarette smoke. My eyes turn red and feel like they're going to pop out of my head. My throat closes up and it's hard for me to swallow or breath. I become nauseous even being around someone that has smoked recently, let alone when they are smoking at that exact moment. My body can detect the slightest presence of smoke even if it's on, or should I say embedded in, someone's clothing. Breath mints don't really help disguise the presence on someone's breath because it's not the displeasurable breath that displeases my body as much as it is the exhalation of processed nicotine. Extended exposure makes me quite sick and even gives me a migraine. And, no, I've never actually smoked. I imagine I would have to be hospitalized if I ever decided to brave the pain.
So, did I buy his cigarettes? I think not.
And, no, I didn't explain to him why...
No Really,
AWChris
posted by AWChris | 2/02/2006
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