Random interaction that made me laugh to myself and caused other passengers to move a little farther away

/ briefsalvage / Leave a comment

Smelly, homeless dude, out loud: Customers should clearly get 3% and they should be getting about 50% and I told them so and they didn’t agree but it should be about 3% […he then goes on and on in a similar vein..].after all 8 times 3 is 27.

Me (forgetting reality for a moment): No it isn’t.

Smelly (looking me in the eye): Yes it is.

Me (always bad a math): 3 times 7 is 27.

Smelly: No it isn’t. 3 times 9 is 27 so the customer should be getting at least 3%.

Me: You’re right. I see what you mean.

Smelly (still making eye contact): Yes, absolutely…[he starts the mysterious math equations again from the top]…they should get about 50%.

Me: Uh-huh. Yup. Well, this is my stop. I completely agree with you, however.

Smelly nods his head appreciatively then slides into the subway train seat I just vacated. As the doors close I hear him continue, “3 %…”

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I have no idea what we were talking about but he seemed interested in explaining it all to me. Hope it made his day, at least a little bit brighter.