Something strange happened today in the parking lot. After emptying the cart, I threw my purse in the front seat and proceeded to the back of the Jeep with Evie, so I could change her diaper, which had become dangerously full. I had yet to return the cart to the corral, so I left it pushed up against my Jeep while I changed her. The parking lot was relatively empty, and I was not preventing anyone from easily parking.
While I was standing there, I saw a strange man approach from way across the parking lot. He headed directly toward me. We made eye contact through the windshield, and he continued to stare as he came nearer, nearer. All the hairs were standing up on the back of my neck, I felt my body stiffen. He stared at me, I stared at him.
He never broke his gaze. He was just confidently, with purpose, walking directly toward me, in the middle of a mostly-empty parking lot. I started to panic. I had Evie laying in the cargo area of my Jeep. She was half-diapered, with her pants around her ankles. I quickly closed the diaper, and got a good hold of her, ready to run, and scream, as this strange man continued to make a bee-line directly at me.
After what seemed like 20 minutes, (but was probably 20 seconds,) he arrived at my Jeep, and circled toward the back, where I was standing. While he was still a good 5 or 6 feet away, I spoke:
Me: "Yes?" (Very gruff, and dripping with venom)
Strange man: "Hi...I'm sorry, I thought you had a little kid."
Me: blink...blink. (He must not be able to see her...don't say anything, and maybe he'll go away.)
Strange man: "Umm...can I take this cart back for you?"
Me: "Oh...sure. That would be great....thanks"
Him: (muttering while walking away )"I didn't mean to bother you, I just thought you had a little kid."
Me: "Thank you."
I felt a little embarrased for rebuking him. In retrospect however, he continued to weirdly stare at me, after he took away the cart. He then got in his truck and drove behind me for a solid 10 minutes, before turning off.
Perhaps he was just a nice guy, and I was being over-protective, but again, he was a strange man, approaching me and my baby. Don't mess.
Like a waterfall in slow motion, Part One
3 years ago
3 comments:
Trust your Mommy Instinct. I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes you just get that feeling that something isn't quite right. Hang in there, Mommy!
That guy WAS creepy. We've been given that gut instinct for a reason. Well done.
ALWAYS trust your instincts. It's better to seem unfriendly than to find yourself (and your baby)in a bad situation.
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