Red truck
I was walking back from the mechanic yesterday when a dirty old red truck pulls up next to me. The man inside rolls down the window and asks "Excuse me, but do you know where the Home Depot is?"
"Uh sure. It's on Sherman Way..." I start to explain.
"Sorry what’s that?"
I pause for a second and then step a little closer to the truck. I'm just over paranoid, I tell myself. "It's in Sherman Way: That’s about a grid block and a half north on this street. When you get to Sherman Way turn right and its a ways down."
He pauses for a second sounding a little disappointed her inquires "Is it far?"
"Not too far, just about 2 miles or so, you can't miss it"
"Oh thanks, sorry what's your name?"
"Wendy"
"Gracias Wendy! You've been real helpful. Do you want I ride?"
"No thanks. I live not far from here" I start to walk off, chiding myself for thinking ill of the man. I'm just over paranoid. I'm not two blocks from my house and its broad daylight I have nothing to worry about. Gee I hope that the Home Depot I was thinking of was still there. I hadn't been to it in about 4 years. I don’t commonly have much need for that sort of thing...suddenly I notice something red drive by, its that same truck. I cross the street and he turns left onto the side street I am now starting down. I pass the spot where he had pulled to the curb calling for me to get into the car "I can drive you home no problem" he says "It'll be faster" I ignore him and reach for my cell phone. This has happened before so many times I know what to do, but my cell phone is not there. Crap! I left it in my other purse.
By not he has found the spot where that old tree blocks the sidewalk. He has parked at the place where I would have to enter the street to get around. I’m trapped, he's between me and home and he is clearly not wanting to take no for an answer. Starting to panic I tell myself I have dealt with this before. All I need to do is think. I could go over to Joy's house, stay there till he goes away. But her car's not there. She's not home. And he is blocking the way to my house. I hear him start to say something. At which point I choose my only viable option I walk back out to the main street in hopes of loosing him there.
What is with this place? I was walking around school by myself constantly and never even was catcalled. I can walk down the streets of West LA and have no problem, but not even a week back in Van Nuys and I'm already dealing with a case of "Hey little girl want a ride?" that doesn’t take no for an answer. Is it me? Do I attract this somehow? Is it how I carry myself? But I don’t deal with this everywhere I go, just here. Do any of you ladies out there have the same problem?