Five Finger Discount

3/2/09

Although the forecasters said Philly would see 6-12 inches of snow, I think we only got about 3-4". Either way, it was enough to close city schools for the day and create a small mob at every grocery store for french toast basics like bread, milk, and eggs.

With the schools being closed, kids were itching to get out of the house and, apparently, go to the Franklin Mills mall. When I hopped on the 20 bus around 4pm, the bus was packed, window-to-window, with teenage kids chatting about which stores they were going to visit when they got to the mall.

I was crammed between 2 teen boys planning their "shopping" trip. The conversation went something like this (with a lot more "f" words thrown in there):

Boy 1: It don't matter that they give us off, 'cuase I never go to school anyway! I cut every f'n class. I got caught by Mrs. K, but she was so stupid and let me just get in-school detention. I didn't think she would pay attention, so I skipped to detention, but I got caught. I probably will get expelled.

Boy 2: You so stupid. You need to not get caught! Yo, did you see Jim's new phone? It's off the hook!

Boy 1: Yeah, I'm gonna get me one of those. The phone my dad gave me is so lame.

Boy 2: Those phones are like $200, how are you going to afford that??

Boy 1: Heh, I'll just steal one. We going to the mall, a'int we? I'll get one today. Did you see my new IPOD. I stole it off some dumb girl at school. She had it sitting right out there, so I just took it. I need to steal a new hat, too, I lost mine.

Boy 2: Cool, can you get me something, too?

After discussing what they are going to pick up at the mall, the boys focused their attention to a plump girl that just entered the bus. After having to hear the boys lewdly talk about what they would like to do to the poor girl, I finally found a seat and they were out of earshot.

These kids are so smart - No need to worry about the economy, just steal anything that you need!

Welcome!

An interesting cross-section of Philadelphia rides SEPTA with me everyday. From the business person commuting to the high rise downtown, to the school students in perfectly pressed uniforms, to the single mothers with kids in tow trying to fit a bulky stroller on an already overcrowded bus.

A lot of the riders choose to escape into their own worlds by turning up their IPODs or immersing themselves in a book. I, instead, choose to observe my fellow riders and enjoy this colorful city. On my 2 hour commute every day, I am entertained, amused, pissed off, and/or shocked by things people say and do in public. I'm starting this blog to share my observations because it's an interesting adventure out there!