Once again, I am late to the pub.

Pubski story #1 Actually from earlier this week.

I was walking in my neighbourhood today. I didn't like moving to this city and always wanted to go back to my previous town, but today tasted like fall and the neighbourhood seemed neighbourly. It's full of interesting Victorian houses and trees. It's semi-gentrified in parts and public housing other parts. I love the multi-cult of the 'hood. Today, for the first time, I imagined myself actually staying here.

Ahead of me, two large, black guys were walking. They were stopping and looking at houses and talking about the neighbourhood. I started walking a little closer to them to try and hear what they were saying. As I got closer, they stopped talking. Then they stopped walking. They parted, one stepping onto the curb. They wanted me to get past them.

I thought, "Wow, that's what I would do if strangers were walking close behind me. I'd be a little nervous and wait for them to pass. Maybe they're afraid of me. I know I'm only 5'4", but I have my high-heel, suede black boots. I can kick ass."

I said, "Hey, what's up? Why are you stopping? I wasn't going to attack you or anything."

They said, "Oh, we're not afraid of you. We thought you just wanted to go more quickly."

"Oh," I said head down, face reddening, a little disappointed.

We all laughed and talked about the neighbourhood. But I did point out to them how weird it felt for them to want me to pass.

(Thanks to eightbitsamurai for vetting my story.)