The Crosswalk of Compliments

“Great shirt.”

“I like your tie.”

“Nice hair.”

The three women passed quickly, smiling at Matt as they each complimented him one after the after. Matt smiled back, a blush creeping up the side of his left cheek. He continued to walk across the crossing, heading left as he hit the sidewalk and entered the revolving door of the mirrored skyscraper where he worked at Wiztech Pty Ltd.

“Morning gentleman,” he announced to his co-workers with a confident wink as he signed in with his key access and entered his cubicle, an undoubtable bounce in his step. “Beautiful day outside.” His two co-workers; Fidel and Aaron exchanged knowing glances yet said nothing. The three of them were computer analysts for the company and had developed their friendship over a period of three years. Matt swivelled his chair to face them, for his expectations of a snide comment from the two had not yet come. They were talking to each other through their smiles.

“What?” Matt asked.

“He’s discovered it.” Aaron said to Fidel.

“I was wondering when this was going to happen.” Fidel mused.

“Wondering when what was going to happen?”

Fidel leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know Aaron- do you think he’s ready for it?”

“Ready for what?” Matt was suddenly irritated with his comrade’s suspiciousness.

“Did you receive any unexpected…admiration, on your way to work this morning?”

“Like what?”

“Oh you know, a glance your way from a fine female perhaps…or a kind word from a stranger.” Aaron fluttered his eyes dramatically. Matt’s mouth fell open.

“As a matter of fact…yes. I was complimented on my tie…and my shirt…and my hair….WAIT! Did you put those women up to this?”

“The Crosswalk of Compliments.” Fidel and Aaron said in unison.

“The what?”

“The Crosswalk of Compliments,” Fidel reiterated. “A New York folk-legend and an American national treasure.” Matt met him with a blank stare.

“Ok…what are you talking about?”

“The crosswalk adjacent two-hundred and thirty-fifth street…its haunted-”

“-it’s not haunted,” Fidel interrupted Aaron. “It’s a spiritual nexus, or at least it’s got magical properties.”

“Yeah, like some strange phenomena that occurs of which you cannot explain, just like the Bermuda Triangle.”

“You guys are idiots.” Matt shook his head and swivelled back to face his computer.

“But the weirdest thing about it...,” Fidel continued to whisper conspiratorially, moving his chair closer to Matt’s as Aaron did the same, “...is that it happens on the green light, and it only happens in one direction.”

“Ok, you’ve had your fun- I get it.”

“No for real bro, he’s not messing with you. If you walk across the crossing and the light is still green before you hit the pavement as its turning red and someone crosses from the opposite side…well…you get compliments.”

“That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Don’t believe me? You said it yourself- your tie, your shirt…your hair,” said Aaron.

“I have naturally great hair; you both know that. And I dress impeccably. And besides, I’ve walked across that crossing a million times.” Matt argued.

“Yes but have you crossed it prematurely and passed under the light when it was still green a million times? I bet not.”

“Who even makes up something so dumb?”

“It’s not dumb. It’s the Crosswalk of Compliments.” Matt looked between Fidel and Aaron, searching for the end of this charade. They were both deadly serious.

“Well if you’re so certain this green light has some kind of….human persuasion ability… how come I’ve never heard you guys talk about it before? Or anyone else for that matter?”

“One simply doesn’t talk about the Crosswalk Matt.” Aaron lowered his voice further, eyeing off two staff members as they walked passed.

“It’s more of…an attraction, an experience if you will. For example if I’m feeling shit about myself I cross earlier so my self-esteem gets lifted on my way to work.” Fidel said nonchalantly.

“Yeah- or like last year when I asked out Sally at the Christmas party but found out later she was dating Brad Dugan from sales; let’s just say that crosswalk was getting a major workout. I even scored the phone number of a supermodel.”

“Oh come on!” Matt scoffed at Aaron.

“He’s not kidding.”

“Well how come you’re not dating a supermodel then?”

‘Because that’s not how the crosswalk works. She gave me her number; and I rang it straight away of course, but she didn’t remember giving it to me and refused to meet up with me.”

“Once you’ve crossed the spell is broken.” Fidel waved his fingers in the air magically.

“Now I’ve heard everything.”

“Fine then,” Aaron rolled his chair back into his cubicle. “Don’t believe us.”

Matt sighed and stood up. He crossed to the windows and looked down onto the street pointing. “So what you’re telling me is that crosswalk right there makes people give people compliments.”

“The green light specifically.” Fidel confirmed annoyingly. Matt watched the green light. He watched it change from red to green several times, allowing the massive flow of traffic through. The people who crossed- and there were many, all seemed to do the right thing. Heads in their phones, waiting for the sound of the little green man to tell them it was safe to cross. J-walkers typically didn’t use crossings. There was no way to see this in action without a prolonged stakeout or crossing himself. Matt returned to his desk and sat down.

“Ok we’re going down there at lunch, and we’re testing this out.” Fidel and Aaron laughed.

“Sure if that’s what you want. I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. But just don’t get addicted like Aaron did last year.”

“Why? What will happened to me?”

“You’ll turn into a massive dick.” His co-workers roared with laughter. Matt rolled his eyes. The morning came and went and as soon as the clock struck midday, Matt was out of office door with Fidel and Aaron following closely behind him. This was crazy. He just had to know what this green light business was all about, even if it meant his co-workers were having him on and once they got down there they would all have a big laugh. They’d played jokes like this before. The three of them exited the building, the sun high and bright and warming his skin through his shirt. He stopped short in his tracks just before the crosswalk however, a large orange maintenance sign directing pedestrians through a detour. City workers were labouring over the street light, a jack hammer obnoxiously piercing through the pavement.

“No!” Aaron cried, covering his ears over the noise.

“Seriously?” Matt shrugged and Fidel laughed.

One of the city workers looked down from a small crane he was working in. “Sorry boys!” he called loudly. “Can’t cross here.” He pointed at the sign. “Lights are down for maintenance.”