I am a forty-year-old woman maintenance assistant for a city. There are not many females on my team, but we are crucial for parts of the job (liability stuff). I also dye my hair with henna. In the sunlight, it often glows bright like copper. I don’t know what compelled a random man old enough to be my father to approach me, but my hair is often the reason. I’ve been hit on many times before, and it likely won’t be the last. This time, however, is by far the strangest interaction I’ve ever had.
Today, I was asked to meet several of my leads on a repair job in a heavily homeless-populated area. My team never cleans there because it’s unsafe, but a pipe burst, and it was an emergency. And we were understaffed that day. So, my boss trusted me to drive four blocks to the repair site. The moment I get out of the truck, ZOOM!
Some random, old man in an American flag hat has snuck up behind me, positioning his scooter between my truck’s driver door and me, but not between my leads’ truck. There in the truck sat three of my leads (tall, dark, bearded men wearing the same uniform as me). I was safe.
First, assuming this was a man looking for directions or assistance, I don my customer service, always-be-polite-to-the-public state of mind.
The dialogue that follows is an approximation of our interaction.
Me: “Can I help you?”
Him: “Come here often?”
Me: “No. This is my first time here.”
Him: “Oh. So, you’re here to clear out these bums.”
Me: “That’s not my job.”
Him: “What is your job?”
Me: *Gesturing to my leads behind me.* “We are maintenance.”
Him: “So, you can do something about the holes in the fence? Those bums are cutting holes there. There. There.”
Me: “That is an excellent observation. I’ll be sure to pass it along.”
Him: “While you’re at it, you should take a shotgun and blow their heads off.”
Me: “…I’m sorry, but we as city employees cannot condone violence.”
Him: “Fine. Maybe, I’ll do it.”
Me: “Just don’t do it in front of me. I’ll be obligated to report it.”
After he scootered off, I turn to my leads.
Me: “Will one of you ride with me. I suddenly don’t want to drive alone.”
