"As long as you mind your own buisness"... "let's get him."

I was walking along a street near Bradford. I think it was Montford, 800 block. Four young guys were sitting on a step. "Need any thing?" one asked. "No" I said, "I'm just passing through."

"You look like him. Do you know him?" asked a neatly dressed fellow.

"You look like him," repeated another who had a speech impediment and was probably mentally retarded.

"I don't know what your talking about." I said.

"Give me five dollars," demanded the neatly dressed fellow.

"I don't give away money," I replied.

"Let's get him!" Said neatly dressed, as jumped off the step and lunged toward me.

I felt my energy rise. I lifted my hands automatically and shook my head, gesturing that I did not want to fight.

He stopped, then walked away as if nothing had happened. Just then some older guys had come by. Their arrival might have helped. They exchanged some words, or money or something.

I walked away wondering how close I came to getting beat-up. It was broad daylight, 12:00 noon. It was my first time seeing them, as I recall.

The main thing I would do differently next time is walk on the other side of the street and walk fast, like I was minding my own buisness. Not just meandering around or hanging out or checking the place out.

Earlier, in the alley behind the east side 800 Bradford houses, a light skinned man who appeared to be in his 60s walked by carrying two Save-a-Lot bags. I told him I liked Save-a-Lot, and he agreed. "Food is getting expensive," he said. He said he uses the subway to go to his Save-A-Lot branch -- I had not known about. I wish I could remember the name of the place.

He lives on Ashland and his back yard is cati-corner to the 821 back yard. He recommended an alarm system if I am going to be out a lot. 30 a month is cheep, he said. I thought it was too much. Besides, I don't even plan to be using electricity. He said the bars on my place would not be enough to keep them out. I thought to myself that if I don't have anything inside to steal, they will stay away.

As far as safety is concerned, he said the main thing is to "mind your own buisness -- only report crime where you are directly involved."