In my peripheral vision, I see two young guys trying to get their car started by pushing it. [keep walking, just keep walking. don't look up. are they looking at you?] "Hey!" [oh shit! ignore them. pretend you're deaf.] "Hey! Brother! Give us a hand!" [look, i'd love to help, but it's my back, you know. anyway, i'm a weedy little guy. wouldn't be much help. and it's wet and the roads are slippery and i'm wearing these shoes with no grip. and don't give me that 'is it cuz i is black?' business. no it's not. though now that i think about it, aren't you the guys who whispered 'batty boy' at me the other day? and, anyway, i'm running late for work, got a meeting, you know - you can tell, can't you? i am terribly sorry.] "Sure, no problem!"