Apparently My Hands Were the Problem

One of the things about driving around here is that eventually you stop questioning reality.

The streets are narrow. People park wherever physics allows, and occasionally where it doesn't. Roads become suggestions. Lanes become philosophical concepts. I've gotten used to it.

I'm driving the BMW through one of these neighborhoods when I come across a black BMW parked directly in my lane, facing me.

Fine.

I stop behind it and wait for the oncoming traffic to clear so I can drive around.

While I'm waiting, a van pulls up behind the BMW and parks halfway into my lane, making an already narrow street even narrower.

I look at it and throw my hands up in the universal gesture of, "What is happening?"

That's it.

No yelling.

No horn.

No rolling down the window.

Just my hands in the air.

That's apparently the moment everything went sideways.

The guy jumps out of the van and immediately starts yelling.

"I don't have anywhere to park!"

"Oh, it's funny, huh?"

At that point I start laughing.

For about half a second I consider arguing.

Then I decide against it.

The more he yells, the more absurd the entire situation becomes, and the harder I laugh.

Eventually the traffic clears. I drive around both vehicles, give him a thumbs-up, still laughing, and continue on my way.

And I'm still not sure what the expected response was.

Was I supposed to apologize?

Pretend I didn't notice?

The road was already blocked.

The van made it worse.

The gesture was enough to trigger the argument.

The laughter just finished the job.

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Well... why not?