05.06.00

Just because the subject of a documentary is incredibly interesting, doesn't mean the documentary itself is interesting. This is not an easy accomplishment, but one director has done it not once, but twice. Go see The Filth and The Fury if you don't believe me.

Aside from watching a disappointing film today, I got robbed. The thief made off with 200 bucks and all I did afterwards was get on the L and go home stunned. It happened so fast and in front of so many people that I'm still in shock.

I was in the loop doing some shopping and my final destination was the illustrious Parade of Shoes. Yeah, I know, I'm a dork but this is nothing new. I needed some cheap sandals and for 14 bucks, I got not one, but two pair that will last me the summer. Wait. Strike that. Reverse it. I got two pairs of sandals for $214.00.

I got in line behind a wedding party; an obnoxious gaggle of wimmen all purchasing the same hideous pair white cloth pumps. (My cheap sandals were much cooler, trust me.) They nearly had the poor girl behind the counter in tears. While I waited in line, some man seemed to walk up near me, cutting in front of the woman behind me. My hand immediately went to my purse, but he walked away and stood by the door. I figured he was just waiting for someone. (He was waiting for someone, alright, he was waiting for ME!)

I made my purchase, placed my wallet in my purse and snapped it shut. As I got to the door, the man suddenly cut in front of me to go out first, while bringing an inhaler to his mouth. I let him go thinking, "Here's a sick man, ignore his rudeness," but suddenly he was alarmed and saying, "My arm! My arm! Pull the door closed!"

I wasn't sure what was happening but it appeared his hand was below the bar on the door and stuck there because he had his inhaler in his fist. He was frantically pointing at the bottom hinges of the door with his other hand and saying, "Pull! Pull!" as if I there were something there to free his hand. I spun around a little, but did nothing as I couldn't imagine what he wanted me to do. I was also fumbling with a lot of bags.

I turned back around and looked at him quizzically, but now his hand was free and he was on the other side of me. I asked if he was okay, he said yes, and I promptly left the store. He was creeping me out. About ten seconds later, the frazzled check out girl ran after me and told me my wallet was in the store. I was sure it wasn't mine, thinking she meant I left it at the counter. She tugged my arm and I went back (she barely spoke English).

There on the floor, just inside the door was my wallet and it's contents strewn about around it. I sensed everyone in line looking at me and I said out loud to no one in particular, "How did THAT happen?" I was stunned to see it there because I distinctly remembered putting it back and snapping the purse closed.

A woman said, "He took something out of it."

I looked, and all the cash was gone. I must have said this out loud as the check out girl suddenly started saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," and knelt down to help me pick up the mess. Someone else in line said, "Are your credit cards there?" "Yeah, yeah," I replied, "He just took all my money."

I didn't do or say anything else. I didn't even ask which way he went. I just got up and left. At first I was tremendously ashamed thinking I must have dropped my wallet and it served me right for being so careless. It wasn't until later that I pieced together the scam.

I'm so angry. I thought I was careful about these things. One other time my wallet was lifted by woman in a DMV line. I was wearing whites (I worked as a lab tech at the time) and she bumped up next to me to ask a question about someone else in line dragging an oxygen tank. When I got to the desk my wallet was gone, but found later that day, empty of cash and cards in a dumpster along with some others.

Once, a girl boarded a train I was taking with some friends through NYC. She stood in the aisle and cried about how she was just robbed and all she needed was ten more dollars to purchase a ticked home. Everyone in the car gave her money and she had well over ten bucks on her when she left. One of my friends had suspicions, however, and followed her off and on to the next car with the same sob story. When she saw him, she ran for it.

What makes today's theft sting even more is just before I hit "Parade of Thieves", I was confronted by two people asking directions to a shelter. When I couldn't tell them, they asked me for food. I was so careful not to let them distract me because I'm aware of how these creeps work in twos and threes, looking to get your attention away from your belongings so they can snag them.

I'm very bitter. You really can't trust anyone. I gave a man ALL my money once when he claimed he needed insulin for his baby. I KNEW this guy was scamming me, but he mentioned a kid and I felt obligated and unable to say no.

I'll say no now, but I hate to think I'll never help anyone again.

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