There is this guy in my building who every time I run into in the stairwell or the lobby, he’s always got this bewildered look on his face. Think Chris Cooper in American Beauty. Straight-laced, average as average as can be with a man-boy haircut too square for any other coif. He’s always mumbling something directed at me that is never audible. Never quite loud enough to dignify a significant response. I’m always left like Huh?! It’s created quite a bit of a complex. An awkwardness too late to address. We are always on the move with each passing and never friendly to inspire me to stop in my tracks, to say hello to my fellow neighbour. Like any other stranger in the building or at the gym where you’ve ignored each other long enough it’s become too cringe-inducing to acknowledge their existence. So what’s your deal man? You got something to say? Because I know whenever we pass each other, your mumblings have an air of condescension. One day he did it again, saying something to me as we’re passing each other, and all I could muster was PARDON? No response. Say Hi to your neighbours before they become too creepy to approach and develop a silent contention towards you.
