I’m walking to the post office and I pass this guy who is walking in the same direction, albeit slower.

“Fuck you!”, he says.

I do a double take wondering if I heard him correctly.   I look at him and he says it again.

“I deserve a fuck you just for walking by on the road?”, I ask.

“Yeah, fuck you.  I can say whatever I want.  Leave me alone.”

I turn my back to him and walk away.   Inside, a lighter clicks, igniting the dry kindling of my rage.  About a hundred yards down the road the flames have grown into a respectable fire.

I feel like turning around and fighting him.

I don’t know if it’s still true, but in this state, those words are considered fighting words.  So if he thinks he can say anything he wants, he should be prepared for repercussions.

I tell myself that he’s probably missing a few marbles and that he doesn’t deserve me punching him in the face.  Any rational person wouldn’t have uttered an unprovoked fuck you.

From inside the post office I see him standing in front of the entrance with a deer in the headlights look on his face.  Yeah definitely nuts.  As I walk through the exit, I bite my tongue to keep from engaging him further, the fire of rage still burning strong.  I’m focused on his face as I walk past, but he is oblivious.

By the time I’m half way home, the fire is out.

Of all of the animals I’ve encountered, humans are definitely the craziest and the least trustworthy.