yes, i have the time, and no, i'm not giving it to you

So I was waiting at the bus stop on Monday, calmly reading my book and trying not to shiver in my pea coat and scarf, when this big guy holding aloft a huge umbrella gets off one of the buses and walks briskly over to the bus shelter.

"Do any of you know the time--oh, what I am saying? Of course you don't," he said in one breath, a sneer in his voice.

I looked at him blankly as he walked away, his corpulent body hidden beneath an equally massive umbrella (why, though? It wasn't raining). I exchanged a quick look of bewilderment with the only other person at the bus stop, an elderly Asian woman in a pinkish-purple knit cap and matching jacket. (Sidenote: why does it seem that all elderly Asian women are fond of this strange color? My own grandmother is like obsessed with it. Shirts, pillowcases, lipstick, you name it, and she has it in that strange, faded berry color.)

Then I felt a little offended. What did he mean, of course we don't? Because we're women, and women don't have...watches or cell phones...? Because we're Asian, so thereby we must...stingy with giving away the time?

Or did he think that we didn't understand him, didn't speak English?

I am ashamed of how quickly I jump to that possibility. But sometimes, I can't help but wonder. What other motivations could he have for acting the way he did?

Regardless of motive, he was rude. And if he had bothered to ask, it was 4:56, thank you very much. And the next bus to Jefferson Park will be arriving shortly. Jerk.