$10 Blog

When someone says to me, "Look, it says gullible on the ceiling!" I look. That's just the kind of person I am. I call myself a very trusting person, others say I am just plain gullible. This usually doesn't cause me many problems, but this past weekend it did.

I was with two friends in San Francisco and we were walking around in the Fisherman's Wharf area looking for a place to eat. We entered a diner that looked promising, but after realizing no seats were available, we walked back onto the street to continue our search for food.

Immediately after walking outside we were approached by two women trying to convince us to buy palm readings from them. Palm readings have always fascinated me, as have tarot cards and psychics. I know they aren't real, but I so want to believe in them. So, these women approached us, like I said, and we politely declined. But they wouldn't take no for an answer.

One woman singled me out, focusing all of her attention on who she had identified as the weak link. She offered me a free sample, grabbing my hand before I could reply. This startled me, which I'm sure was all part of her plan. She pulled me away and my friends kept walking, trying to escape the other fortune teller. I was trapped, I knew this would not end well for me.

I told the woman no several times, but she continued with the sample, compliments and good fortune spilling out of her mouth. I was worried about where my friends had gone and wanted to walk away, but she wouldn't let me go. Thinking I could pay my own ransom to the kidnapper, I asked her how much the palm reading was.

"Ten dollars," the woman replied. I didn't want to pay this fare, but I saw no other way to escape. Ten dollars was exactly what I had in my pocket, so I didn't think to make a lower offer. I reluctantly handed over the fee and felt a bit of excitement as she began reading the sweaty palms of my nervous hands.

The excitement didn't last long. The 20 second reading was as vague as I feared it would be, and much less detailed than the sample. She had my money, and now this scam artist was ready to get away. I tried questioning her, attempting to waste her time like she had wasted mine, but this woman was a pro. She hurried away and I drudged down the street regretting the activities of the previous five minutes.

I found my friends in a tourist store a block away. They automatically asked me how much money I lost to the woman. I was offended that they didn't ask how I got away and instead had assumed that I gave in - I guess they know me too well.

"I didn't give her any money, I just wasted a lot of her time. She finally gave up and moved onto harassing a tourist." I announced. They were surprised by this statement and questioned me again. As I am also bad at lying, after two whole minutes of defending my story I admitted that I got scammed. Laughter erupted. I was embarrassed. They teased me the entire day as I sulked.

I learned a lesson last weekend. I may continue to be a bit gullible, but I won't be scammed again. And I guess $10 isn't too much to pay for inspiration for an entertaining blog.