David Chiu

Tonight I was getting some stuff out of my car and moving it in the house when I noticed someone walking down the sidewalk. It was dark so I couldn’t really see who this person was.

Strange Person: “Excuse me, are you Korean?”

Me: “No I’m Chinese.”

Strange Person: “Could I talk to you for a second?”

As the person approached the gate the light from the house revealed their face. Across the gate from me was this African-American guy who was dressed in a tight spandex short sleeve half-top with tight spandex pants. He was about 5′10 with a medium build but had a feminine tone in his voice.

Strange Person: “I’m sorry to bother you but I’m gay and I was hanging out with my boyfriend tonight and we got drunk. My boyfriend lives down the street and right now he is smoking up a storm and took some stuff from my bag. I’m trying to get home and I live in Hermosa beach so I called the cops who said that I was not in their jurisdiction and I wanted to take the bus but I only have a dollar. If you could possibly give me a ride or help me with the bus fare, I’m just trying to get outta here and the brothers in this neighborhood have made it clear that they don’t like me in their hood.”

Me: “Well I can’t give you a ride, but hold on a second and let me take this stuff inside.”

I took the bags I had inside the house and Heather was standing right inside the door.

Heather: “Don’t give anyone a ride”

Me: “I wasn’t going to. I figure I’d just give him some money to take the bus home.”

Heather: “I was worried that this guy was trying to distract you while someone else tried to get inside the house, or I thought maybe he was going to try to rob you so I was standing here listening ready to hit the alarm button or run out there and try to help you.”

Me: “Yeah this guy is a little wierd but he seems to be telling the truth so I’m just going to give him some money.”

Heather and I grabbed a couple of dollars from our wallets and I headed outside to give it to the guy.

Strange person: “Thank you very much. Why don’t you write down your address so I can pay you back?”

Me: “Don’t worry about it”

Strange person: (emphatically) “Thank you very much. You’re so kind. Merry Christmas to you.”