Day 6
The Challenge: Chat to a random stranger
Challenger: Lots of people
I was dreading this more than big mac-gate.
Chatting to strangers is reserved for:
a) people who have bits of food in their hair – and
b) hyper charity people who star jump at you in the street.
I wasn’t in a rush to stamp on their territory… it didn’t seem fair.
Unfortunately, I had to do it (fool that i am), but I wasn’t doing it without @soyabean1 – she had to be there to witness (from afar) my ruining – and, if need be, scrape me off of the pavement.
Target 1:
Man in g-star jeans. 30s. beard. (probably logs tapes in a dark room)*
Location: Bagel Mania
Me [browsing the bagels thoughtfully]… think I’m going for this one [thrusting a pre-prepped salmon and cream cheese in his face].
Man: [Blank stare]
I run.
Result: FAIL (embarrassingly, and miserably).
Target 2:
A smoker.
Ask them if they have a lighter.
I did.
It was a 10 syllable request.
That was it.
I had nothing more to say to a woman in pinstripe.
FAIL. I’m a loser.
Target 3 (and last chance):
Old man with dog, wearing Farah trousers**
Location: Mortimer Street
Distraught from Target 1’s blatant snub, and Target 2 being too lame to count, it was time to change tact…no more food in face or one line requests. I needed a purpose. And I had it… lost tourist. Perfect.
Me: Aw, what a beautiful dog [I stroke dog for that extra personal touch]
Man: [Smiles] -good sign!
It got better. I’m not going to recite our exchanges verbatim on here cos you might die of boredom and never visit my blog again. BUT he was super nice and told be lots about London, all of which I knew, but pretended to have absolutely no idea about. YAY. Stranger chatting can be un-mental if you choose cute old men with cute small dogs.
I’m giving myself a B+ – I would’ve got an A, had he not been old.
I felt kind of bad for lying, but he clearly enjoyed it, so it was a-ok.
* wanker
** the man, not the dog.
ps. is it only day 6? ow.
