SANDCAT

Several years ago, when I was in my mid-20s, I had to make a quick trip to the post office. It was getting close to sunset, kind of in that twilight hour. I get there, and as I’m walking towards the building there’s this older man who asks me if I know where such-and-such neighborhood is, and can I drive him there. I held my hand up 🖐 and said “oh, no, I don’t know where that is. I can’t take you”.

I went inside, mailed the package I had brought, and came back out. He was still standing out there, and he started asking me again as I had to walk past to get to my car. I told him again that I couldn’t take him, and picked up my pace towards my car. He followed me towards my car, and by the time I was at my driver’s side door, all I could think was “get in and lock the doors”.

I’m not used to even using the lock button, because the doors lock automatically when you take the car out of park. Where even is that button? I didn’t want to flounder around looking at buttons. Got in, keys in ignition, gearshift into reverse. Doors locked automatically. And just barely in time, too, as a moment later he was yanking on my passenger side door handle.

I held my hand up towards him again. Shoo! Back up! This car’s going to start moving! I left. It wasn’t very easy to drive home, as my foot on the gas pedal (as well as the rest of me) was shaking so much.