(I don’t know if it’s common knowledge, but I really like to people watch. This journal has become pretty stale, so I figure I’ll start to add some of my better people-watching experiences. Just interchanges I find interesting or funny. I don’t know if they’ll come across as well in writing, since often it’s the tone of voice of the stranger that makes the watching fun. But we’ll see.)
I want a frappachino and I need to grocery shop, so I head to the mini Starbucks at Kroger. Two men stand ahead of me in line. One of them is a short but round guy wearing a black t-shirt and khakis. His sunglasses are tinted orange, and he takes them off, then puts them back on. Off and on, repetitively, while he waits for his friend to get his coffee. His arms are covered in tattoos, and he has pulled up his sleeve to show them to the guy behind the counter.
“My brother does all mine.”
“Single needle?”
“Yeah. He does ’em, so they have sentimental value. If I was in a car accident and lost my arms, I’d tell ’em, gimme my f–king arms!”
He can’t stand still. He takes his sunglasses off, and puts them back on. He fidgets with the little toys Starbucks sells. His friend has a bag from the pharmacy.
“Gimme some drugs.”
His friend mumbles something.
“If I had drugs, I’d give you some. Steroids, maybe. I’m gonna inject my dog with steroids. He’ll be bigger than me.”
He mimes the action of resting his arm on his dog as his friend takes his coffee and they walk away.
