Game Interrupted

Megan Gott
Aug 27, 2017 · 2 min read

Moments with strangers

I was playing Pokémon Go at the park. Nearby a man was yelling. Immersed in my phone, I didn’t realize my attention was what he wanted until he was right next to me.

“Hey baby, why were you ignoring me back there?
I kept walking.

“I’m talking to you. Stop. Don’t you wanna get coffee with me?”

“I’m sorry. I’m busy.”

“You don’t look busy.”

“I’m catching Pokémon. Please leave me alone.”

“You’re a stupid fat bitch, you know that? Nobody wants you, you sick cunt.”

“Fuck off.”

He continued following me, yelling obscenities and hurling comments about my body. Abandoning my game I picked up my pace. He matched it, and for a few blocks he kept pursuit. I turned the corner, ducking into a restaurant. The hostess offered me a table. I told her about the stranger following me. “Please don’t seat him anywhere near me.”

She dropped the perky façade. “ Are you hungry or just trying to ditch him?” We shared the look. “You know what, follow me, I’ll let you slip out the back.” A male coworker looked on stunned. Confused. I was still in the back hallway making my escape when I overheard him question her judgement. “Corey, stop. This shit happens ALL THE TIME. I can’t tell you how often I’m that girl. Letting her out the back is easy. Don’t be such a dick.”

The incident didn’t strike me as noteworthy until later when I was chatting with a friend. He was appalled. I hated that I was surprised by his reaction. He was pissed that happened to me. I felt ashamed, realizing I’d been minimizing how much it bothered me and how often I downplay this aspect of my normal, day to day experience. Passionately he told me, “This shit shouldn’t be accepted as normal.” He said it again before hanging up the phone, once again offering support.

That’s why I’m talking about it. It’s stays normal when we stay silent.

)

Megan Gott

Writer of stories, watcher of people

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