Like every other weekday morning, Dale is waiting at his bus stop at 8am. He’s wearing the standard uniform of the entry-level office worker (khakis and a collared, long-sleeved shirt) with his coffee-filled travel mug in one hand, and his messenger bag in the other. Across the street, an elderly gentleman is hosing off his driveway and sidewalk as he does every morning, while at Dale’s stop, two women discuss their husbands, children and dogs… as they do each and every morning. The sun is shining brightly and the temperature is a little brisk, but normal for this time of year. Dale is not prepared for where today will take him.
He takes his usual seat on the bus near the middle doors and next to the window (for quick access to fresh air) when at the next stop, a VERY large man boards and squeezes in next to Dale. After a few short minutes it’s quite clear that the large man is falling asleep. His breathing gets deeper and deeper, while his head rolls from left to right to left before finally coming to a rest on Dale’s shoulder.
“Five bucks says he drools on you before you can move or wake him.” a voice behind Dale says. It belongs to an impeccably dressed middle-aged man whom Dale hadn’t noticed before. Dale laughs, thinking the man is just making light of the situation when the man draws a crisp five dollar bill from his lapel pocket.
“You’re kidding, right? There’s no way!” Dale whispers back.
“That he’ll drool, or that I’d like to bet on it? I assure you, I’m quite serious about both.” the man says with a slight grin as he fans himself with the bill.
“So if I can get him to wake up or move his head before he drools on me, you’ll give me five dollars?”
The man nods.
“And if he drools on me, I owe you five?”
Again, the man nods.
“You’re on?” Dale shouts into the ear of the large man who sits up with a start. “Oh, I’m sorry.” He says to the man while reaching back to take the bill from the stranger.
“Well played. I had you figured for a polite sort. Live and learn, I suppose.” The man bows lightly, clearly pleased with the outcome even though he lost. “Care to go double-or-nothing?”
Does Dale…
- politely decline and start a conversation with the large man beside him?
- accept the stranger’s bet?
