Walk Around The Santa Monica Pier.
The next day after our win against France I decided to take a trip to the Santa Monica Pier for the first time in my life.
The first person to call my attention was a man sitting on the steps of a restaurant.
"I'm in a world of hurt, bro." the man said to me.
(Bro?..)
"I just asked my crush out & she totally turned me down in front of everyone we work with! I'm so embarrassed."
"Aw man, your crush turned you down? It's a cold world out here. Try again another time. Just because the temperature was cold this time doesn't mean it always will be." I told the man trying to offer up a bit of encouragement.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" the man raised his voice.
"She's been the love of my life since middle school! I'll never be able to show my face around her again. Or her friends. Or MY friends!"
(He's going a bit overboard, isn't he?..)
"You have to help me, mister."
"Hey! Pull yourself together. I've been in your shoes before & it's never fun facing rejection. That's just part of life. It makes you tougher in the end & you'll be stronger the next time you decide to look for a date."
"It's not just that. It's how I approached her. I don't know how to talk to women." He said.
(....)
"Do you think you could show me how to talk to the ladies? Just pick any girl here on the pier."
"That's very polite of you but I'm married so I shouldn't be doing that. Besides, everyone's personality is different. My approach may not fit your style."
"Please, bro! I'm begging you!"
(Sigh...)
"..Fine. I'll show you once so you better pay close attention."
"Thank you so much! I'll be hiding over here behind the steps to this restaurant."
"Hey how are you doing today?" I said to a woman walking by.
"Hi there!" She softly responded.
"Don't I know you?"
"No I don't think so." I said as I tried to think of a way to divert the conversation.
"But your aura caught my attention instantly as you began to approach me. I just had to stop you for a second. I'm Tiny."
"Megan. Nice to meet you." She said with a confused face.
"I was wondering if you'd be interested in getting a drink together sometime. Maybe not now since you look like you're heading out."
Her face went from awkwardly smiling to wrinkled up.
"I do know you! Well I've watched you on TV before. You're Mandy Rose's husband! You're Tiny Jimenez!"
"Wait. It's not what it looks like." I tried to say before she loudly drew attention to us & walked off.
"You're married. How dare you ask me out for a drink. Excuse me." She said as she stormed by.
"You didn't even give me a chance to explain."
At that time the man came out from behind the steps.
"Bro! What happened?"
(....)
"She knew I was married. I tried to tell you it was a bad idea for me."
"Bro. Do you want to try again?"
(Why does he keep calling me that?..)
"That's okay. I think one rejection is enough for me today."
"Well if you ever want to come back by & show me some more moves I'll be sitting right here."
Just at that time, a voice in the opposite direction called my name.
"Hey, Tiny Jimenez! Tiny!" a voice shouted from nearby.
It was the man working as a hamburger vendor.
"Yeah. That's me." I said as I turned around to walk towards the man.
"I'm a big fan! You're incredible, man! I saw what just happened there. That's really nice of you to help that guy."
Just as I was shaking his hand a woman's voice screamed. I decided to approached the commotion.
"He's not my husband & that's not my son!" the woman pleaded.
"What?" I said towards her direction as the confrontation took off from there.
"These men are pretending to be my family so they can kidnap me in broad daylight!"
(Is she being serious?..)
"That's my wife you're flirting with, punk!" The man said as he approached me.
"Is he for real?" I said to her as he began to shove me.
"I'm warning you. Don't do this. Just because you don't recognize me doesn't me I won't lay you & your son out in front of everyone."
At that time he & his son put their fists up ready for some action.
(What were they thinking?..)
"Thank you so much!" the lady yelled as she leaped for joy.
"He's a hero!" The hamburger vendor yelled from his stand.
The crowd of bystanders began to chant hero very loudly.
"Ma'am, do you need help?" I asked her.
She leaned in so no one other than myself could hear her speak.
"Oh, no. I was just kidding. These men are my family. They just love to fight so we have this setup where I pretend to be a woman in distress & it works every time. They start a fight."
I looked down at her son beside my shoes.
"Are you being serious? I just knocked out your husband & your son for nothing?"
"Well he's never met someone that actually fights back until you. I guess they got what they deserved once & for all. Thank you." She said as she kicked her husbands foot to wake him back up.
I stood up & asked the crowd to quiet down as I made my way back to the parking lot. That was enough Santa Monica action for a lifetime.
vs. 
scrappy Team USA this year. I love it. 
