Sidewalk X-ing

Our eyes meet. She doesn’t know who I am, and I don’t know her either. We’ve passed each other a couple times on our way to class, never bothering to further our relationship. Today, however, is a special day. Our paths are crossing--literally.

We break eye contact. I speed up in order to reach our point of intersection before she does, attempting to avoid any potential collisions. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her doing the same.

“Okay, I’ve got to assert my authority in this situation. I sped up first,” I thought. I continue walking, quickening my pace even more. I notice her speeding up, too. In about a three seconds there is going to be a major collision just off of Elder and Noggle.

“I can’t back down, it is her responsibility to slow down. I have the right of way,” I thought. A split second before an impact of epic proportions, I slightly tilt my upper body, and mutter, “Excuse me,” with a nod.

She smiles politely from less than a foot away, her face slightly blurred due to the closeness of our encounter. I smiled to myself as I continued on my path. I had avoided the seemingly inevitable accident, and asserted my sidewalk authority.