I’m walking along a street in Dumbo and a woman approaches me from the opposite direction. She’s pushing a baby stroller and I can tell from her style of dress she’s ultra-orthodox. When she gets within earshot of me she barks out the name of a street: ‘Bridge Street!’ or possibly ‘Ridge Street!’ – I can’t tell which (there’s a Bridge Street nearby, no Ridge Street to my knowledge). I stop, hesitate, then repeat what I think I’ve heard: ‘Bridge Street?’ For a split second she seems to acknowledge my response – but only with a glance; then, to my surprise, she doesn’t respond, nor even so much as break stride. She pushes the stroller angrily past where I’m standing on the sidewalk. She’s already searching out her next target, for it’s taken me too long to answer her query.