We're Not in Kansas Anymore Toto!

I was mugged this past Friday on my way to work. Chicago’s subway system for the most part runs above street level but a good portion runs below ground. I was amidst a popular shopping district at the time of my incident. There is a Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Old Navy, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and other brand concept stores within a one mile radius, plus it was 11 o’clock in the morning!
After purchasing a transit card, I proceeded down the stairs to the lower platform where I noticed a city attendant sweeping and collecting waste from the garbage container. I also noticed the mid-forties male wearing an orange, pull-over hoodie and brown baseball cap. He was happily whistling and did not come across as a derelict. The city attendant eventually left and you could hear the sound of the train coming. I looked down the tunnel glad to see headlights and caught the gentleman’s glance. “How’s it going?” he asked. “Great” I said and looked down at my iPhone to confirm the time, 11:08 a.m. I’m doing great time I thought and threw my phone in my purse. I then noticed him walking towards me but the train was on it’s way full of people that I thought nothing of it…plus he was still whistling like a seventh dwarf.
Next thing I know an arm comes across my shoulder and around my neck from behind. I immediately thought he was hugging me and trying to come onto me because he wasn’t forceful. “Hello?” I said.
“Give me your wallet.” He demanded with a whispering voice. I then realized he didn’t want to hug or kiss nor, did he seem to be carrying a weapon.
“My wallet? You don’t want my wallet!” I told him. So many things flood through your head in circumstances like these and you never know how you’ll react. Panic, scream, cry, faint, jolt, or start flailing about. I resorted to reasoning with him in a calming manner.
“Just give me your wallet!” he persisted.
“Honey, I’m telling you, you don’t want my wallet. My cards are maxed out and you’ll get nothing out of them.”
“I just saw you get cash.”
I reached into my front pocket and pulled out two $20 bills and said “here, take the cash but you don’t really want my wallet.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, he insisted on asking for my credit cards and wouldn’t take my money. Okay, where is the fricken train! This guy is not only nervous but, he is not a professional mugger. A professional would have whacked me in the face by now and snatched my purse- not listen to my negotiating tactics. Okay, I am going to stall until that train pulls up so the herd can pour out and scare him off. I opened my purse pretending to look for my wallet and saw my iPhone right away. OMG, I can’t afford to replace my iPhone again! He started to reach in and I grabbed his hand, “just wait a minute! I will give you my wallet!” and handed it to him. He grabbed it and started to run up the stairwell which, at that point the train was FINALLY pulling up so I began to run after him. I grabbed his hood and he turned around and pushed me down. At this point I quickly gathered my purse and hopped on the train. Once inside I realized how naïve, chancy and lucky I was. SAN DIEGO GIRL FOR SURE. Well, I now carry mace plus a whistle with me and, I will be holding a self-defense intro at my home in the next few weeks.