“STUPID”

A random New Yorker just called me “Stupid”.

I was walking on E 14th St., then I got a text message from a friend. I have a hard time keeping up with the crowd while texting, so I have a tendency to slow down, or even stop in the middle of the street. That’s what happened tonight, as always. As I was busy texting with my frozen fingers, I heard a woman’s voice saying, “Keep walking, stupid.”

My mind doubted for a split second: That comment isn’t for me… Or is it?

I turned around and saw the woman walking past me, as she uttered the words, “Busy texting.” In her eyes, I saw annoyance. I want to say that I saw “brokenness of a sinner” or “the need for Jesus” or “someone who needs love”. But I don’t know if that’s what I saw, as I locked eyes with her for a second.

Surprisingly, there were no tears in my eyes or a feeling of anger in me. I sort of stood there empty-headed, probably looking “stupid”.

This is my fourth year in NYC, and finally I came to encounter such open NYC “hostility”.

The lady must be having a really bad day. I think.