Listen

I listen to conversations—perhaps this is eavesdropping. When people speak so loud that their voices carry over into my space, am I really rude to listen? Often I am forced to listen to someone on a cell phone. Is there something about speaking into a phone that requires a loud voice?

Years ago I thought people were hallucinating when they walked along speaking into the air. Now I know better. They have attachments—implanted, I expect over an ear, and no longer require a hand to hold a cell phone. These are not folks in need of psychotropic drugs.

Then there's the true eavesdropping. Someone says something—it catches my interest—and I intently listen—and take notes. Who knows when a snippet of conversation will end up in a story.