After a rather pleasant Monday of teaching, reading, good company, and some fulfilling snack-buying at the south asian store, I walk into the elevator at the garage where my car was parked. Just as I hit the button for the fifth floor, creepy breath on my ear says "Hit five for me, will ya". On my ear, moist creepy breath.
I shudder invisbly and consider getting off the elevator, but decide against it.
"How're you then?" says creepy man.
The small space fills up with the unmistakable smell of alcohol.
"Oh joy" says my inner voice "Fine thanks" says my outer voice.
I stare pointedly at the floor indicator, secretly plotting to break the Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Chilli Sauce bottle on his head, if anything*.
"Fifth too?" he asks.
"Yeah" I say, in my most curt voice, trying not to inhale too deeply.
The door opens, I leap out and walk as briskly as possible to my car.
The man stays in the lift, setting off more alarms in my head.
I get to my car, throw my stuff in and glance behind me. Man-from-the-elevator is strolling about staring at the cars around him and looks at me.
"Fifth floor," I think.
"Where's my phone?" I think.
"Damnit, where are my keys" I think.
Man-from-elevator is still strolling about apparently aimlessly.
I dig around in my bag till I grip the comforting, jangling cold metal.
Two beeps later, I leap into my car, slightly panicked. I skip my routine of connecting the ipod, adjusting the temperature, shuffling things around in favor of leaving the garage as quickly as possible.
On my way out, I see the man fiddling to get the door of his** car open.
I don't stop.
I drive on out as soon as possible.
Should I have notified someone? What would I have said? "Excuse me, I think there was this creepy sort of guy. He might have been drunk. I'm not sure. He was in the garage. Some twenty minutes ago. I can't really describe him except to say he was portly, clean shaven and had light eyes. Maybe a cap? He had an orange jacket on. Would you check him out?"
Most of all, though, I don't like how threatening this situation was (is?). I don't like that I will now, even in Cornfield town, have to be alert as hell while walking about in broad daylight.
Bugger.
* This is possibly both my dramatic self and my self-defense instinct kicking in.
**presumably his
I shudder invisbly and consider getting off the elevator, but decide against it.
"How're you then?" says creepy man.
The small space fills up with the unmistakable smell of alcohol.
"Oh joy" says my inner voice "Fine thanks" says my outer voice.
I stare pointedly at the floor indicator, secretly plotting to break the Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Chilli Sauce bottle on his head, if anything*.
"Fifth too?" he asks.
"Yeah" I say, in my most curt voice, trying not to inhale too deeply.
The door opens, I leap out and walk as briskly as possible to my car.
The man stays in the lift, setting off more alarms in my head.
I get to my car, throw my stuff in and glance behind me. Man-from-the-elevator is strolling about staring at the cars around him and looks at me.
"Fifth floor," I think.
"Where's my phone?" I think.
"Damnit, where are my keys" I think.
Man-from-elevator is still strolling about apparently aimlessly.
I dig around in my bag till I grip the comforting, jangling cold metal.
Two beeps later, I leap into my car, slightly panicked. I skip my routine of connecting the ipod, adjusting the temperature, shuffling things around in favor of leaving the garage as quickly as possible.
On my way out, I see the man fiddling to get the door of his** car open.
I don't stop.
I drive on out as soon as possible.
Should I have notified someone? What would I have said? "Excuse me, I think there was this creepy sort of guy. He might have been drunk. I'm not sure. He was in the garage. Some twenty minutes ago. I can't really describe him except to say he was portly, clean shaven and had light eyes. Maybe a cap? He had an orange jacket on. Would you check him out?"
Most of all, though, I don't like how threatening this situation was (is?). I don't like that I will now, even in Cornfield town, have to be alert as hell while walking about in broad daylight.
Bugger.
* This is possibly both my dramatic self and my self-defense instinct kicking in.
**presumably his
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