It’s about 7 a.m. and I’m walking Ingrid by the side of Gallaudet University on my way back from Starbucks. I have my headphones in — focused on my audiobook and distancing myself from other pedestrians.
The street back to Ivy City is West Virginia Avenue NE, which features an odd morning mix of dog walkers, joggers, prostitutes and drug dealers. A guy about my age exits a yard, crosses West Virginia, and starts walking diagonally toward me. The guy says something to me, but I have my headphones in so I pretend not to hear him and keep hustling forward with the dog.
The guy gets into a SUV and drives off.
We are still walking along West Virginia Avenue a few minutes later when the SUV reappears and slows down. The guy rolls down his window and waives to get my attention. I stop and take out my headphones.
Guy in car: “Are you interested in me at all?”
Me: “…pardon me?”
Guy in car: “Would you be interested in a guy like me at all?”
I,
am,
mortified.
I smile, mumble something about having a boyfriend and keep it moving. That was quite possibly the most awkward pickup ever, but apparently I still got it? 🤷
