3WW (Disarm, Engage, Mayhem): Blue

Ellie walked down 6th Avenue in her designer blouse, jeans, and white sneakers. She checked her pedometer and felt the satisfaction of having walked exactly 8,473 steps that day. Almost to the garage where her car was parked, she noticed a young man moving toward her at a good clip. The young man, dressed in a blue suit and red checkered tie, approached with a smile and engaged her as she was about to pass.

'Hi' he said, avoiding her eyes. 'I'm sorry to bother you, but can you spare some money? I can't believe I forgot my bus pass.'

She noticed that he had mild body odor but attributed it to him wearing a dark suit on a warm day. 'Sure' she said as she pulled out a one. 'Here ya go.'

'Thanks so much' he said. And down the street he walked.

'What a nice young man' she thought to herself.




A few days later, Ellie made the same trip from her office to her car. On the way, she noticed an attractive gentleman - whom she immediately named Rico (a name she gave to any random attractive guy) - up a block across the street and let her eyes wander over his rather well-toned figure. As she came nearer, she saw that a gentleman in a blue suit had approached 'Rico'. 'No, it couldn't be' she thought to herself. But it was. The same guy who had asked her for money. She picked up speed and crossed the street. By the time she reached 'Rico' the blue suited bandit had departed.

'You know that guy did the same thing to me a few weeks ago?'

'What's that?' he asked.

'He told me he forgot his bus pass. I gave him a buck. What about you?'

'Aww, shit, really? Figures. Boy, these guys know how to play.'

'Yep'

She started to walk away.

'Hey, can I get your number?'

She turned. 'Sure'. She wrote it down and passed it to him. 'Give me a call.'




She soon discovered his name wasn't 'Rico' but Sam. And they started dating, all because of the blue-suited bandit. Over the next few months, Ellie watched as 'Blue' took people's money. Unassumingly. Causing no mayhem. Just walking up and asking for some bus fare. Whenever she saw him, she'd smile to herself secretly congratulating him for his clever ruse.




She moved in with Sam. And soon discovered he had a drinking problem. A bad drinking problem that spilled over into their relationship. Sam hit her. He always apologized after their fights. And then he hit her again. Like her mother, Ellie stayed in the relationship thinking she had caused his problem. Especially since he hadn't had this problem when they were dating.




Ellie walked down 6th Avenue in her baggy sweater and tattered sneakers. She wondered which Sam she'd see at the car. The happy, sober Sam. Or the angry drunk. Ellie knew the answer immediately when Sam approached. His breath stank of rum. And he had a 40 ounce beer bottle in his hand.

'Let's go' he said tersely.

She wondered if now would be a good time. She didn't want to go home. She was tired. And just done. Just done. 'No, I think I'm going to go back to work.'

'What, bitch? Who you kiddin? We're goin home.'

'No, Sam, I don't want to go home with you.'

'Yeah, right. Let's go.' He turned as if to go.

So did she.

She didn't see him turn again and swing the bottle high in the air.

But the bottle never hit her. Instead, she heard a thud behind her as an unknown assailant tackled and disarmed Sam. She turned and saw that Sam was out cold from hitting his head on the curb. And that the assailant was none other than the blue-suited bandit. 'Blue' stood, brushed off his suit, smiled at Ellie, and walked briskly away.