Opps

You should never trust anyone.

Of course, there are exceptions.

The trip from my office to my apartment takes about an hour. Sometime less, depending on the availability of the subway train.

This evening I left the office at about 6:30. I had stayed late at work to show my support for my former co-workers at RIT. They are currently up to their ears in student financial aid applications.

Actually, I didn't have much real work to do. I just can't seem to break the habit of staying late.

Upon leaving the building I crossed the street, where a pizza shop is conveniently located. I had a wonderful slice of pepperoni pizza. While I ate my dinner I read some news stories from the newspaper "Manila Bulletin", which I had downloaded to my Palm Pilot.

I then stepped next door to obtain my dessert, a small Rocky Road ice cream cone.

I took the ice cream to the park, which is also nearby. There I sat and watched the people, birds, grass, trees and the Empire State Building. It was a very nice evening to sit outside.

Having finished my ice cream, I ventured down to the subway station to begin the ride home. The train arrived quickly.

Even though it was now after 7:00 P.M.I was unable to find a seat on the train. I stood and read more of the newspaper on the ride home.

Upon reaching the Kew Gardens station I again came above ground to find a bus, empty and ready to go. Perfect.

After leaving the bus I stopped in the local bodega to buy some cat food. That was important if I wanted to go home.

Now I'm in the last leg of the trip. I reach for my keys and immediately remember something important. I left my keys in my desk drawer at work.

Oops

Actually, that wasn't my first thought. However, I'm trying to clean up my language.

As I approach the apartment I am thinking of my options.

1) Leave the package from the bodega outside the door and start back to the office.

2)...well, that was about as far as I could get.

Then I had a thought...maybe the guy who runs the small deli under my apartment has a key to the building’s common area. That way I can leave the cat food inside the hall while I take a two-hour trip celebrating my stupidity.

I get to the deli and there is Mohammad. He always greets me the same way. "How are you my friend?” We can all define the word friend differently, but the guy from whom I buy milk doesn't usually reach that level for me. Still, I have always accepted the greeting in good humor.

"Well Mohammad, I have a small problem. Do you have a key to the hallway? I left my keys at work. I can't get in to my apartment."

"Yes. I think so. I also think I have a key to your apartment. Here. Try these."

This is New York City. I have four locks to get into my apartment. (It came that way). This guy, who runs a store under my apartment, has full access to my apartment. Why? It turns out that my landlord also has a tendency to forget the keys, so he leaves a set with Mohammad.

Today is one of those days where it pays to trust.

Not really funny, just interesting.