Be Careful What You Take Pictures Of

Apparently these photos could've gotten me whacked.

You see, a couple weeks ago I was in a not-the-best-part-of-town at night seeing Australia at a small movie theater that charges $3 for a ticket (it was the only theater in the city that was still showing the film). Waiting for my bus at the run-down 'Logan' Blue line El stop I noticed a pay phone dangling by its cord. Interesting urban picture, I thought, so naturally I pulled out my camera and took a few shots. As I stood up and put my camera away a car pulled up, filled with men. Windows rolled down despite the freezing temperatures, each and every one of them was staring at me as I stepped away from the pay phone. I looked at them, they looked at me, I turned away and continued to wait for my bus. I tried to play it cool as I looked around my surroundings and pretended I wasn't scared (even though I was a little). The car slowly rolled forward, windows still down, all 6 guys packed into the Ford sedan staring at me as they slowly circled the El station. My bus pulled up and I boarded with a sigh of relief, while noticing the car stop to wait, still staring at me through the bus windows, until it finally drove away in the opposite direction as my bus.

Come to find out from Ginger, my resident gang expert, that a dangling pay phone is typically a sign of a drug drop location. Well isn't that lucky of me!