.:There sorry for what they've done, there were three wise men, just trying to have some fun:.
I'm back on Nicolson Street, I know the route so well I could walk it with my eyes closed. This would perhaps suit me better; as I walk to class I find myself disconnecting from the surroundings. I have culture shock in the city, I grew up differently, it doesn't appeal and makes me indifferent. Feel as if I'm invading alien territory. It's the usual way round to campus; today is Psychology, and I'm already running late. For the first time sinse I started in the area I'm waylaid by someone calling me; nobody bothers to notice but in my naivety I can't be so rude as to not look 'round for the source. The man on the bus seat repeats the question. "Do you have a smoke?" Automatically I know he wants more than a smoke. He, whoever he has been before, is destitute, desperate, demanding. Words for the homeless form in my mind. Words I prefer not to use. I shake my head and turn away, but instead I get, "Hang on. Come back here". I give in easily, by default I move back his way. I'm aware of the passing minutes. "Could you spare thirty cents?" I'm surprised by so little a sum, and immediately I say yes. What does thirty cents mean to me in the long run? Nothing. As I fumble for my purse, he continues. "Are you well off? Would you say you were well off?" This is an odd question to me. I'm taken aback, I've never considered this, I cannot consider myself poor. Still I say, "Not really", which isn't a lie. "Could you make it a doller fifty?" I hand him two dollars and wonder if the people here have just learn't to ignore, to forget. I turn to go but again he stops me, "Just come back". Slightly miffed, I obey more quickly this time, muttering about having somewhere to be, seconds are ticking in my brain. He stares at me really intently this time, in confidence. "You are caring, you are really decent". This cuts at me, more than it should, like a knife. I block it out. I treat him as I would be treated, as human. "I'm sorry I don't have any smokes", I repeat. We are on common ground now. "That's alright. You have a good afternoon". I copy this and leave, but I don't feel verified. I think about the poor actions of society. I quickly disconnect again.