I was called a "Nigger" yesterday, for the first time in my adult life. I suppose I've been called one before, but never to my face, and certainly not in the presence of others. Last night at work, a coworker on her cigarette break helped a homeless guy out with some coffee and a salad. He thanked her, and shared his struggle with addiction and poverty. She vowed to help him out whenever she could and returned to work.

Five minutes later, he walks in, demanding cigarettes. I don't smoke, but neither coworker had any to spare. He then launched into a rant about it being up to me (yes, ME) to stop them, saying they were coming for us, that if I don't stop them, he would come back for...me. I still haven't grasped who they were. I brushed him off, assuming he was yet another Hollywood McCrazy to cross my path. I busied myself cleaning, my back to him, denying him my full attention.