Anyone who actually reads this blog, any of my stories or has a sense of the weird, crisp and chewy... realizes that I am a freaking magnet for it.
Picture me writing my fingers to the bone yesterday and saying. ‘Hmm. I need to take a break and my hair looks like a dang tornado went through it.’
I live in the Deep South and the dollar store is ground central for everything, especially neon green nail polish, hair stuff and off-brand tortilla chips. Lol. So I went and got some gorgeous hair oil, Australian red-licorice chews and a few other things I needed to feel civilized.
Cue, troubling forty-something, white man who doesn’t have a clue what social distancing means hovering like a sand gnat near the women's hair products with no mask on. Gah!
I waited and waited, and… emulated the undaunted expression of the Sphinx on the other end of a famous desert in Oasis Storm. Mask glued to my face, as I steamed my own chin like a flipping cauliflower. Finally the alien dude in 'Men in Black,' the doppelgänger shuffled away.
Success when I found something to make my naturally curly hair a vision of blond puffs. (Not really, but hey! Dream a little dream for me.)
Of course when I stepped in line to pay, Mr. Personality and his two female companions, who were just as stilted and odd via their body language were directly in front of me buying the world’s cheapest toilet paper with a wad of damp one hundred dollar bills from a change purse held closed with a rubber band.
Five minutes later, they were finally done. In the meantime the same mirthless curmudgeon kept staring at me and fidgeting. A LOT. I was not dressed for the club, bell-bottom jeans, a sporty top and my old Converse. Boring…
Style and swagger is for hot dates with my wizard and lunch with my girlfriends; preferably somewhere with decent sushi, a wine list I can't afford and a saltwater view.
His demeanor was highly aggressive. Eventually I got annoyed and stared boldly back until he caved and looked down at his tennis shoes.
I’ve spent my fair share of time alone in dangerous places and in the wild. Never stare a wolf, junk-yard dog or a large cat in the eyes, it means you want to rumble. Who's the Apex-Alpha? Same goes for cagey guys with buzz cuts and police handcuffs, but I digress. I am going for coyote with this example though, as the women with him somehow seemed to be part of it.
Whatever "it" is.
The cashier even shared afterwards when they walked out, that 'they reminded her of the people in the film “The Hills Have Eyes.” ' Yep! Yep! Yep! Dude. Ya feeling me yet?
So I pay and leave. They are sitting in their red, late model SUV in the lot, watching me get in my car.
Then it gets extra creepy when they drive around the lot (the wrong way towards the entrance, mind you) and pull right up behind my car, waving me on as if I am inconveniencing them. I was still parked.... I deferred and waved them to go on ahead. BYE! Doors were locked the second I was inside. My gut went into high-alert, Houston we have a problem mode.
They gave up when I didn’t budge and drove off. I waited for five, had some licorice for lunch and went.
Two blocks away they were parked in a municipal lot facing the main road in a pull out. I was watching for them and felt quite certain they were waiting somewhere for me. I was not surprised to see them, but was a bit shaken at the accuracy of my spidey-sense radar.
Babylonia activated.
Me being me, I drove straight into the private lot where I know the chief of police parks his cruiser (hoping like heck he would understand, if he showed up) and waited for their next move.
Ten minutes later I pulled around the block again and they were gone. I waited another five next to the front door where I knew I could get fast help, ready to lay on my horn and call 911.
Nothing else happened, but I was 100% sure they meant to follow me home or wherever I was going next.
To do what exactly? I might be feeling a tad ill. Well that is the million-dollar question aint it kids?
I write all kinds of eerie, spooky and sometimes disturbing stories about women and girls facing enormous challenges and the scary things that live in the ether and X-factor people that exist on this planet.
This often covered theme is no accident. I have had many experiences that pepper my stories with insight about what to do and also what NOT to do. Been on both sides of that abyss.
Send hugs and bottles of top-shelf liquor, I am out of gin, British Navy rum and vodka. Just send it all. Every situation is different; everything could turn out differently with one slight pivot.
Thankfully, I made a strong move and thought fast on my feet like Mohammed Ali.
To be honest, I don’t want to think about what might have happened, if I was unaware or not completely understanding that when I looked that troubled man in the eyes, it was a direct challenge and he obviously wasn’t used to that and didn’t like it enough to consider taking it to another level.
I am not saying you should ever do any of this though, okay?
What I am saying is the world has always been a dangerous place and being aware and smart is integral to avoiding the bad cycle-down of the what ifs and super creeps who carry darkness with them like that unforgettable trio. They would be perfect for extras in the next M. Night Shyamalan film.
I don’t regret challenging that guy, because he was way out of line and other people noticed it too, but I do regret not understanding exactly what I was dealing with and will walk more carefully in the “jungle” from now on and I hope my stories help others trust their own instincts more, so they can avoid problems as they arise.
Why am I sharing all this? Gosh you know. It bothered me. It was pretty real and if you have something similar happen, remember this post okay? Please stay safe, be happy and be well.
Many thanks to all who read my stories, leave reviews and offer me friendship, community and laughter. You rock and I love you for it. Thank you!
Oh and P.S. I have four new titles brewing, in order like a drop-top hey: Mont Pelier #4 (Irish Phantom Series), The Hive, The Paradise Garden #2 (The Sophia Series) and lastly #2 Tangled Webs with Veronica Cline Barton (The Haunted Series) Whew! Are we there yet?
Many thanks to the amazing Dr. Summer Watson for her fabulous advice about trying Tik Tok. It’s bizarre to not be fifteen and using that platform. Say what? Not going to dance or shake my butt though, I will leave the boogie-booty-bounce for the baby chicks.
I have decided to plant myself virtually in 'Dante’s Inferno' once a week with a silly satire about the dark side of writer’s life. I hope you find it amusing and I hope it garners me a whole new crop of voracious readers who enjoy the wicked, totally original and strange tales that seem to grow out of my fingertips like dandelions. Love and high five's to my partners at #BOOKEM on You Tube. Wow. Almost a whole year's worth of content. Amy and Veronica, I couldn't have done this without you. Love you both so much. xox.
Keep reinventing like the Phoenix…
Sending Gamma rays your way and the hopes to the faithful Literati that you are doing great and getting some sunshine.
Oh one more thing. A little birdie told me she tried my lemon cream cake recipe from the last post and it totally cured her writer’s block. Let us BAKE Bundt cake. Judo chop those words y’all! YAY!
Until next time, find your Peace, Love, Hustle, then Read or Write. Xox Bibiana
Bibiana Krall/ Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/bibianakrall
WWW.BIBIANAKRALL.COM
