It happens fast. A split second of warmth. Someone's waving at you. …They're not waving at you. You already waved back. Tuesday afternoon, waiting at the light Corner of the street, the sun was shining bright Somebody across the road, familiar face — maybe Big smile, hand goes up, waving like crazy Something in my brain said — hey, I know this person Smiled back immediately, the situation worsened Full wave. Enthusiastic. Committed to the bit Hand up, elbow moving — fully into it The light changed, we both crossed, paths converging The identity of who they're waving at emerging Someone behind me — of course — an old friend of theirs They hugged it out right next to me — nobody cares I kept walking. Same pace. Eyes forward. Straight. Converted the wave into a hair fix — too late Three people at the corner witnessed the whole scene The cleanest cover up they'd ever seen Hello stranger, I thought you knew me Hello stranger, the evidence fooled me Hand already up, smile already out Hello stranger — what's this all about Hello stranger, the wave is committed Hello stranger, dignity submitted I saw you, you saw me — or so I thought Hello stranger — lesson officially taught Saturday at the mall, food court, second floor Spotted someone waving from the escalator door Eye contact locked — I felt it — that connection Waved back immediately, no time for reflection Full smile, both hands almost — caught myself at one Nodded too, added a point — the damage was done They stepped off the escalator, walked right past Greeted someone three stores down — going fast I stood there mid-wave, mid-nod, mid-point The universe had chosen this specific joint To remind me that eye contact means nothing here Forty people in the food court — crystal clear Grabbed my phone immediately, very important text Typed nothing, scrolled nothing — just processed what comes next The universal recovery, the oldest move in town When the wave goes wrong — look down Hello stranger, I thought you knew me Hello stranger, the evidence fooled me Hand already up, smile already out Hello stranger — what's this all about Hello stranger, the wave is committed Hello stranger, dignity submitted I saw you, you saw me — or so I thought Hello stranger — lesson officially taught …The stadium was the worst. Forty thousand people. Someone three sections over. Waving. In my direction. I waved back. … They were waving at the jumbotron camera. … I was on the jumbotron. Waving. At nobody. In front of forty thousand people. … I bought a hat. Pulled it down. Sat very still for the rest of the game. Didn't move. Didn't wave. Didn't exist. Sunday dinner, nice place, table near the door Watching people enter like I've done before Someone walks in, scans the room — our eyes connect They smile and wave — I smile and wave — correct Except they're looking for their reservation Their hand was up for the host — not my elation The host walked past me, greeted them, led them away I kept the wave alive and redirected mid-display Picked a random stranger — hoped they'd play along They looked confused — now two things had gone wrong I waved at my water glass a little. Just to practice. For next time. Hello stranger, I thought you knew me Hello stranger, the evidence fooled me Hand already up, smile already out Hello stranger — what's this all about Hello stranger, four times and counting Hello stranger, the shame keeps mounting Malls and streets and stadiums and restaurants too Hello stranger — next time I'll let the wave go through I've developed a system since then. Two full seconds before committing to any wave. Eye contact alone is not enough. Name recognition required. Verbal confirmation preferred. … Someone waved at me yesterday. I waited. Two seconds. Three seconds. …They were definitely waving at me. …I waved back. …They were not waving at me. … Goodbye, stranger.
