why, oh, why

you are walking. quietly, all by yourself, downtown. it is late, you have done your day's share of good work, and you are tired. just then, you happen to walk by this restaurant, and there they sit. three or four people you kind of know, and you really really really do not want to talk to them right now. or tomorrow. or next month. but least right now. and you are pretty sure they'd be fine with you not wanting to talk, they look like they are having an ok time just so. hey, they've seen you. now, what you should do is politely say "hey" and keep on walking. but you feel this might be rude, and they might, don't know, like you less?

"hey, 's'that beer you're havin' there? nice."

now you have done it. you all know no good is going to come from this, and the conversation is doomed in the first place.

"yeah, beer, what are you up to?"
"nothing much, just finished work. so much to get done today."
"tell us about it."
"yeah. bummer."
"right."

as you knew before, you had absolutely nothing to share with these people, not now, and probably not ever. and they knew that, too. but now you're standing there. awkward silence, and you're too tired to come up with anything funny. and you don't really care. just the silence is damn awkward.

"yeah, the beer any good?
"sure, nice'n cold."
"the only thing to keep you sane with this weather, right?

great, now you are on the weather.

"alrighty then, gotta run"
"yeah, great, right."
"I will, like, see you guys around!"
"take care."

and take care you should. don't stop. you will be much cooler just passing by, uttering that quick hey and not looking back. it's not worth it.

I'm telling you, I have not passed by a million times.

I'm not cool sometimes.