There I was in Seattle, just walking out from one of my favorite coffee shops. As soon as I walk out, a stranger makes eye contact and asks a very simple question. Do you speak English?
I was a little confused by the question. People were speaking English all around him. Why did he ask me? I answered, "Yes".
He then proceeded to tell me a story about how he needs bus fare to get to Portland. I recognized the man, and he had told me the very same story a few weeks earlier. I offered my apologies, and walked away.
As I did, it struck me how clever his approach was. Starting a conversation with a passer-by is the hardest part. Asking a simple question to engage someone is clever. What is even better is the question he chose. He chose one where the answer is "Yes". I recall reading somewhere that this can make it easier to say yes again.
For all that he taught me, maybe I should have given him some bus fare.