Odd Encounters
30.04.2021
Adéla Jarolímková
I've visited many places in my life. One thing I always do when I'm visiting a new place is watching local people. But don't get me wrong. I'm not some pervert who enjoys watching other people; I just want to get to know their culture and this is the easiest way. Thanks to this habit, I've seen a plethora of people who are stuck in my mind ever since. However, the weirdest and most remarkable people I met in the city where I spent most of my time - Prague. So I want to share some of my craziest memories.
Once I was on Náplavka with my friends. It was evening already and I guess we were a bit loud because we were having a great time and were laughing all the time. It drew the attention of a lady who seemed to be an addict. Out of nowhere she came to us and sat in our circle. No one knew why she was sitting with us or who she was. She was murmuring something about losing her shoes and her husband. A little weird connection, isn't it? We got a weird feeling about her, so we decided to leave. We politely told her we had to leave and at that moment, she screamed: "I'm gonna bite him." And she did. She took my friend's shoulder, bit him, and we surged out of there immediately. But later, we realized that it was hazardous because he might got some injury. Luckily he wore a jacket, so nothing happened to him (except a weird experience).
Another story is with a man on a train. My friend and I were on our way to the gym when a young man got on. He came and sat next to my friend. First, he was smiling at her as if he saw an angel. A few minutes later he told her she had a beautiful jacket. She thanked him but was a bit confused. She was trying to ignore him staring at her, and just kept talking to me. Until he laid his head on her shoulder. At that moment, we didn't know what to do. What kind of person lays his head on a strangers shoulder? It was really odd. Fortunately, we were one station before we were supposed to get off. We just sat there with his head on her shoulder and waited for our station.
An unforgettable encounter was when my other friend and I waited for our metro to go home from school. A nice man came towards us and offered a book for a voluntary financial contribution. He gave both of us a book, but we didn't pay anything. Firstly we didn't have cash, and secondly, we didn't even want that book in the first place. He wrested those books from us and started being very rude. He yelled at us that we are selfish, ungrateful, and don't deserve this. Since this experience, I have never taken anything from a stranger even though they seemed lovely and harmless.
I've had many more experiences, for example, a random man on a street telling me I have a lovely belly. However, I think that this is enough, and I'll keep the rest for myself (or the next time).
Edited by B. Trnková