Jeannie’s rule of thumb as a pedestrian was to give the cars and trucks the right of way if there was ever a tie between her and them when she walked up to a crosswalk. Her method for a 100% win rate was simple: she would turn away for a few seconds, which ensured the stopped car would proceed if no other cars were present. That was her win.
Unfortunately, her rule of thumb clashed with society’s rule that pedestrians had the right of way because they were pedestrians.
Her daily walks were always a challenge that way. Because she crossed numerous crosswalks to and from her house, she had to carefully pace herself to time the busier crossings.
One man driving a dark SUV pulled up to the Stop sign and motioned for Jeannie to cross. She waved, looked the other way, and waited to hear the sound of the car pulling away.
It didn’t budge.
She waved the car on, but the driver stayed at the Stop sign, just short of the crosswalk.
Jeannie turned her back again after hearing sirens in the distance and crossed her arms, this time determined to outwait the driver. Twenty seconds passed and still the SUV was at the Stop sign waiting. She was still ten feet away from the crossing.
Now it was a battle of the wills. Who would go first? Who would win? She wasn’t about to break her winning streak over a single SUV.
The battle was won when an ambulance pulled up behind the car.
The ambulance driver got out of his vehicle and rushed to the passenger side of the stopped vehicle while his partner opened the back of the ambulance and rolled out a gurney.
The driver of the SUV got out, motioned for Jeannie to cross one last time, and ran to the passenger side to assist the emergency personnel.
Jeannie slowly crossed the street, looking back only to get a glimpse at the EMTs assisting the passenger.
Today, the man in the SUV won the battle of the crosswalk wills, but he would’ve preferred to lose, that is, if he knew a contest even existed.
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