Let Me Tell You a Tale.

When I was a teen, I was going to school in a private school that was located near downtown Detroit.

I took public transportation to and from school in those days. And while the Detroit Metro area is not known for it's public transportation, the bus system was sufficient to get me to and from school with just one transfer.

One day, I stayed late after school, because I was rehearsing for a drama production. When I left, I opted to walk a couple blocks down the road to the next bus stop, because it had one of those plastic bus shelters where you could sit down, and the busses ran less frequently once it got this late.

So while I was sitting there, I was joined by a gentleman who greeted me. Instinctively, I knew this was not going to be a normal interaction. For years, I've credited that to being able to read people, but it was probably just because strangers don't normally greet each other in the downtown Detroit area.

Anyway, after about a minute of sitting there, he asked if I had change for a ten dollar bill.

I said no, sorry, all I have is my bus fare. It was pretty normal for me to leave the house with just enough to get to school and back.

A couple minutes went by, and he asked if I had change for a twenty. This struck me as kind of stupid, as if I cannot change a ten because all I have is my bus fare, how could i change a twenty?

But nonetheless, I answered: No, all I have is my bus fare.

After another pause, he asked if I had change for a fifty.

Now I'm a little scared. this guy may not just be stupid, he may be stupid and hoping to rob me.

No, I answered, all I have is my bus fare.

Now he looked like he was pondering something. Calculating. Thinking. After he worked whatever it was out, he reached into his coat. And as he was pulling an object out that took to the end of his sentence to recognize, he asked, "Do you want to buy a gun?"

I said no, all I have is my bus fare.