Repeat Offender

This was probably about twenty years ago, so the dialogue is approximate. I had just attended a concert at Madison Square Garden, so it was late in the evening, and I was walking home. We were still in the midst of the big crowds when a guy with a couple of small scrapes on his face approached me. I’m wary but don’t like conflict.

Guy: “Excuse me, can you tell me where the TA is?”

Me: “I’m sorry, I don’t know what that is.”

Guy: “The travel center?”

Me: “Sorry, I’ve never heard of that. I can tell you how to get to the Port Authority [bus terminal] or Penn Station [train and subway]?”

Guy: “I was mugged, and my wallet was stolen. My friend said he would wire me bus money to get home to Boston. But I lost my ID, so I can’t get the wire. Could you spare $30?”

Me: “Have you gone to the police?”

Guy: “I reported it, but they can’t help me. Do you have $30 you can spare?”

Me: *Getting increasingly anxious to leave.* “Sorry, I don’t carry that much cash.”

I pull out the $3 or so that I have in my wallet.

Me: “I can give you this.”

Guy: *Takes the $3.* “Could you go to an ATM to get the rest?”

Me: *Really getting alarmed now.* “No, I’m sorry. I really need to get going.”

I quickly scuttled off and disappeared into the crowds.

Flash forward about a month. I’m walking down a street in the Union Square area. A guy approaches me. I look up and recognize him as the same guy!

Guy: “Excuse me, can you tell me where the TA is?”

Me: *Without stopping this time.* “Sorry, you’ve already tried that with me.”

I just caught a glimpse of his surprised face as I kept going. I actually try to help or buy a meal for those who need it whenever I can, but as a native New Yorker, I felt pretty insulted that I apparently looked like an easy target twice to the same guy!