Airports, elevators, hospitals, parks, bars, restaurants,Walmart, church, airplanes, the library, Alaska, the beach, auctions and even the Army Surplus stores are a few places I have walked away with a stranger 's life story or some horrific event in their lives they can't forget. A few have even shared photos of their adventure. We seldom if ever exchange names. I think that is odd, however probably a good idea in the long run.
Tommy and I were out and about today. He needed to go to Harbor Freight and get a couple of tools that were on sale. I wanted to go to the Army Surplus store and check out mosquito netting and a few other items for camping or for when the SHTF..whichever comes first. It was there I met my 'character' for the day.
As I tried to open the boarded up door, a young man was walking out. He was short, wore grey baggy shorts and a t- shirt. He had both ears pierced with black circles that will leave his ears eventually with holes the size of nickles...I guess. We bumped into each other. He was looking over his shoulder talking to the man running the store and I was on a mission to get some camping supplies. After we said our 'excuse me's'; the cashier said, "l will have that door fixed tomorrow. We were robbed earlier this week." BINGO!! That was all I needed. I knew a story was brewing close to the surface in the room. I asked about the robbery. The young man came back in to talk and the cashier began to retell the story. It was a simple story. The robbers knocked out the glass in the door and walked in--took what they wanted and left. That was it. I was semi disappointed until the young man began talking. A couple of months ago he was shot in the knee, a few blocks from where the surplus store is located. Evidently, the street his girlfriend lives on is in a dangerous area of Columbia. Someone is shot over there weekly, sometimes daily. The area of the store could be considered 'shaking grounds' as far as being in a safe neighborhood also.
I told the young man he was lucky to be alive, and have full use of his knee. That opened the door to his story. He began talking by reveling how he used to be into drugs but now he has a daughter and he was through with all that mess. I congratulated him for making a good life choice. He smiled. I turned and began walking to where the hunting knives are located. He followed me and asked if I wanted to see his knee. I said , "Well, sure . . . I guess". Before I knew it he jerked up his shorts and sure enough there was a bullet hole. Now healed it looked like a round bruise, combined closely with a long jagged scar. I told him it healed nicely and then he offered to show me how it looked before he was healed. Bam!!! He snapped open his cellphone and there in living color is his bloody knee just moments after being shot. It looked nasty for sure. I asked who shot him? I probably shouldn't have asked that question, because the answer I got was a blank stare. It just popped out before I could stop it. I laughed and said, "Never mind, I don't know anyone in Columbia. Sorry I asked." He gave a curt nod and started to walk off. Then he turned around and wanted to know why I was looking at 8 inch knives. I laughed again and said without thinking, "To keep from getting shot in the knee!" Not everyone gets my sense of humor. . . I keep forgetting that. He said, "Jesus Lady. . ." looked at me like I had just grown a third eye and made his way to the door. . . Never bring a knife to a gun fight little boy - - - everyone knows that:) Kids!!! I need the knife for fishing. One side of the blade is a fish scalier.
Tommy and the cashier were knee deep in war stories, when I walked over to join them. I like to listen to men talk, so I kept quiet while my husband and a stranger tried to settle the world's problems. They didn't have any luck with that one.
It was a good day in my corner of the world. We laughed a lot. Had several serious conversations and ate another couple's platter at Long John Silver's. It was close to what we ordered...not worth the trouble to get a reorder and both were the same price.
Getting out of house was good, coming home was even better.
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