My Neighbor Is Going to Kill Me? I Think?
I've been living above my downstairs neighbor for just about a year, now. He is an immigrant from an African country. I don't know which one specifically, but I would guess (rather wildly) from his accent that it's one that has French as a secondary language. I mention the accent only because it's vital to the exchange that I'm about to repeat, not because his heritage has any relevance to the situation at hand. I want to give his words as I heard them.
We have not formally met or had a civil conversation since the day I moved in. Such is the nature of modern society. We can be total strangers to the people who live literally inches away from us. That being said, I have no reason to distrust or dislike my neighbors. And though I have no desire to be the wacky side-kick sit-com borrow-a-cup-of-sugar neighbor, I am still a nice guy, and don't think it's too unreasonable to exchange a smile or a nod or a wave when you're in a common area of another human being that you frequently come in contact with and recognize.
So today my downstairs neighbor was walking to his car while I was outside, and I gave him a casual wave . . .
"Don't you ever wave to me again!!!"
"What did I do?", I said. He said nothing, but angrily went to his truck and opened the door. He got halfway-in, and then stepped out.
"You looking for gay guy? I'm not guy!"
This took me by surprise. Not only am I not looking for a gay guy, but even if I was, this guy makes Billy Bob Thornton look like Angelina Jolie.
"I'm not gay!", I said (not to get all Seinfeld on this, but I was attempting to repudiate several points at once, and given the language/potential cultural barrier, it was the quickest way to put out all the fires).
"You follow me all over apartment!" At first, I thought he said "You fall on me" making me think I was just walking to loudly. But I walk very softly, specifically because I'm aware that I'm an upstairs-neighbor.
"I'm not following you."
"You follow me all the time! All over apartment! I will see to it that it stops!"
Now, obviously, this guy is getting signals from the mother ship. And I don't give a shit that he's either schizo or on drugs. But that last part: "I will see to it that it stops" is a threat. I'm seriously worried that if I get up from typing this to take a piss that I'm going to get a gunshot blast through the floor.
Any suggestions?
We have not formally met or had a civil conversation since the day I moved in. Such is the nature of modern society. We can be total strangers to the people who live literally inches away from us. That being said, I have no reason to distrust or dislike my neighbors. And though I have no desire to be the wacky side-kick sit-com borrow-a-cup-of-sugar neighbor, I am still a nice guy, and don't think it's too unreasonable to exchange a smile or a nod or a wave when you're in a common area of another human being that you frequently come in contact with and recognize.
So today my downstairs neighbor was walking to his car while I was outside, and I gave him a casual wave . . .
"Don't you ever wave to me again!!!"
"What did I do?", I said. He said nothing, but angrily went to his truck and opened the door. He got halfway-in, and then stepped out.
"You looking for gay guy? I'm not guy!"
This took me by surprise. Not only am I not looking for a gay guy, but even if I was, this guy makes Billy Bob Thornton look like Angelina Jolie.
"I'm not gay!", I said (not to get all Seinfeld on this, but I was attempting to repudiate several points at once, and given the language/potential cultural barrier, it was the quickest way to put out all the fires).
"You follow me all over apartment!" At first, I thought he said "You fall on me" making me think I was just walking to loudly. But I walk very softly, specifically because I'm aware that I'm an upstairs-neighbor.
"I'm not following you."
"You follow me all the time! All over apartment! I will see to it that it stops!"
Now, obviously, this guy is getting signals from the mother ship. And I don't give a shit that he's either schizo or on drugs. But that last part: "I will see to it that it stops" is a threat. I'm seriously worried that if I get up from typing this to take a piss that I'm going to get a gunshot blast through the floor.
Any suggestions?