Seriously, What Is It with This Crosswalk?

Yesterday, I wrote that “one loud profanity-laced outburst had already filled my quota for the day,” but apparently, I was wrong. Walking home from work last night, I reached the crosswalk mentioned in the last post with a touch of trepidation, wondering what fresh indignities might be heaped upon me this time. I looked out into the oncoming traffic (it’s a one-way street) and saw that there were no cars (or bikes) coming, so I gingerly put one foot out into the crosswalk. I stopped short as a bike coming from the opposite direction (did I mention that it’s a one-way street) screeched to a halt. All too predictably, the cyclist began screaming at me, “Wake up! Wake up!” I ignored him and hurried across the street. He continued to scream “Wake up!” at me as I walked away. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I’ll be damned if I’m going to take safety tips from someone who is breaking the law and who is NOT WEARING A HELMET WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC. So, I turned around and screamed, “It’s a one-way street, asshole!” Then I turned back and kept walking. Surely, this fills my quota for encounters with assholes for the week.