Pete McGrew was an observer of people. He never let his guard down; he was always questioning, watching, listening, and wondering about motivations, reactions. He rode the el as frequently as possible to watch people. Sometimes he would work through the car he was riding in, as if he were at a party, extending his hand and introducing himself to people on the train. He tried to draw them out, see how much of themselves they would give to a stranger. He wanted to see their reactions to someone being friendly on a public conveyance where eyes rarely met and conversations were limited. On elevators McGrew would turn his back to the doors and smile at people, trying to start a group conversation. In Laundromats, supermarkets, and bars, McGrew made himself known, usually as the weirdo who would
