Date: 2009-07-16
From: Washington DC

To: Washington DC
Miles today: 0.0

Intermission ¢ Part Two (c) Little Man, Big CityI must confess this country boy is a danger to himself amongst the wolves that skulk the dark corners of the big city. He thinks he¢s a big boy now, that he¢s seen pretty much it all, that he¢s a man and can walk tall in the mean streets of America.The wolves know better. They see prey and today I was preyed upon, conned, taken for a fool, swindled, swindled out of the princely sum of $19. Not a fortune I hear you day and that is my solace (believe me). It¢s almost the price worth paying to remind the man boy that he is really more boy man ¢ unconcerned by the money involved, a little smug that he spotted the con but more than a little irritated that he was taken for a fool.Sitting in the Metro a guy asked if I had a $20 note for $10 and two $5s. It seemed strange but being a trusting and helpful type just arrived in the big city from the sticks of the Appalachian Trail I considered it. Slowly I thought through what might be going on. The amounts were trivial, his money might be dud but I weighed it up and couldn¢t see the harm. He threw the money in my lap, I slowly handed over my note, it all seemed a little strange. Oh well, I as still looking at his notes when he¢s back showing me a note. I¢d no idea what he was trying to point out. The he spelled it out. It was a one dollar bill. Being an honest chap I immediately rushed to apologise fro my mistake but before I said anything I knew I had made no error, but I couldn¢t quite work it out. It seemed to have happened very fast (but in hindsight he hadn¢t even been that slick ¢ having plenty time to switch the note). I said ¢No, I gave you a twenty¢. He said ¢I gave you twenty¢. I said ¢I know and I gave you a twenty¢. He was still standing in front of me. Now I could see the con, I¢m sure I¢d even read about it, one of the standard tourist being taken for a ride scams. In many cases the scam itself may work and even when it doesn¢t your vulnerability and the small amount involve works against you. I had considerably more in my wallet which. along with my passport, was in the pocket of my shorts ¢ not good practice for the tourist in a strange city buy a hiker is limited in his options. I looked around, not security or metro workers in sight. It pained me but I handed over another $20, the alternative wasn¢t worth the hassle.It played in my mind for a while ¢ it¢s not fun to be made to feel vulnerable - a 152 pound, 40 year old facing down a much younger, sturdier, streetwise black man. I watch TV, I know how theses devils lead a dog eat dog life beneath the law. I ked myself there was an underlying threat of violence but there wasn¢t ¢ just a smartass thinking he is clever and a dumb ass who wasn¢t.I started to think through ¢ it¢s not the first time I, or the likes of me, have been diddled. A backpack in Mali, a failed attempt to pick my pocket in Nepal, a guy trying to steal Margaret¢s bag in Cartagena. Yes they¢ll never get me. No way. I¢m going to keep meeting the world head on. No no-go areas. Besides the real rip offs aren¢t these ones. They are being charged £4.90 for a pint of beer at a wedding reception, being oversold insurance or a hire car upgrade after a tiring international flight, hotels charging a $1/per minute surcharge for toll free calls, anything inside airports, in fact the $30 I was charged to put one bag in the hold during my flights to and from Reno. Add your own.It was only $19, I¢m still pretty (OK I¢m not any less pretty), I¢m a little older and a little wiser. I mean getting Davie Brennan to buy you a curry can cost you considerably more. I know, it¢s happened to me!