Excuse me, I know you f*#@ing heard me!

Oh god, it happened.  I am finally not shaking anymore.  I was walking to work, on my usual path. It was drizzling and I figured the streets of the TL would be deserted. No such luck. As I walked from one block to another, I looked up from under my rain jacket hood and saw a larger than usual amount of locals hanging outside the liquor store.  I just marched on my path, trying to disappear, but angry at myself for wearing my stupid bright green raincoat. I know I stick out like a sore thumb in the TL anyways, but to wear a bright color when most all locals wear some type of black or dark colors is foolish.

I walked past the group of people and in order to avoid tripping, I looked up for an instant. My eyes caught the gaze of one of the folks standing on the corner.  I am not sure if it was a man or woman, but they smiled, so I smiled back.  Ok, nothing to worry about.

As I passed the crowd (of about 25 people), I suddenly heard a "Hey, you"! I ignored it. Surely it wasn't for me. I don't know anyone here and no one would address me like that (I think).  Suddenly, I heard a more insistent and closer voice say "Excuse me, I know you f*#@ing heard me, b*tch." Okay, keep walking, I chanted to myself.  And that's when it happened. I got pushed on the back. I was holding my coffee, which spilled down my hand and arm. I gripped it so tightly, as if my life depended on it. My 'friend' came up next to me and pulled my jacket to make me stop. I looked over and she had a crooked wig and 1 tooth left. She was holding an empty small bottle of Bacardi.  Was she going to hit me over the head with it (duh, it's plastic) and drag me down the street? She said "Hi, I know you effin heard me back there, oh wait, I thought you were my friend from up the street. You don't live here, off Van Ness? Do you have .35 cents I can borrow."

I could see my final destination, a mere 25 feet away. I looked up and only saw locals. I wanted someone to be behind me or in front of me who could help me out of this situation. I had visions of the pack of people coming at me from behind and stripping me of my worldly possessions. Ugh, I just had to remember what my dad keeps saying, "Don't worry about them, they aren't going to bother you, just ignore them and keep on walking." Errr, I'am not sure if that is entirely correct advice, but we'll just go with it.

I replied to my 'friend' that I didn't have any cash and I didn't live around here and for her to have a nice day.  She said "you too, have a nice day" and walked off...

Good grief, by the time I got into the office, I was shaking like crazy.....