the cranberry stalker and more
make it to albuquerque. find a T & A truck stop. haven't stayed at one since hudson, wi. a long long time ago. i did stay at a random truck stop in denver, co. but there's something nostalgic about T & A. mmm... amanda... her T & A... mmm... i keep driving though. eventually find a walmart that looks a little safer. not so close to the interstate. decide to spend the nite there. it's hard to break out of something that's been working so smoothly, even if it isn't as glamorous as you expected. not that i expected living at walmarts to be glamorous.
wander around the store some. practically run into a girl. pretty but looks more tired than me. can't be a good sign. we smile at each other. sense her still looking at me as we go our separate ways.
i eventually get an employee's attention to ask a few questions. a wide-eyed, balding, slightly effeminate fellow. "excuse me. i was just wondering if this is relatively safe area. i'm travelling thru and will have to stay in my car overnight..." he looks at me. his wide-eyes widening. with a slight lisp he says, "oh my god... why? do you not have a place to stay?" "no, been travelling the last couple months. living out of the car. been mostly staying at walmarts and truck stops." "well why?" "just wanting to see the country. explore..." sense he's a little concerned. "oh my god, okay i mean yeah it's pretty safe here. i mean, i live a few blocks away and have never had a problem. but you're gonna sleep in your car in the lot here? oh my god..." sense he's a little too concerned now. "no really it's alright i've been doing it for a while now." "ok? well, you may want to park over on the side or by the mcdonald's. it gets more traffic and might be safer there." more traffic is actually a bad thing. i don't bother explaining though. "okay, well thanks. just wanted to check.i'll figure it out." he offers his hand. i shake it. "well, you take care of yourself. i mean it. take care of yourself." "i will. thank you (can i go now)." "be safe." "okay (how about now)." i make my escape. eventually.
i find something to buy to make my trip into walmart not completely fruitless. maybe some fruit? a bag of cranberries to be exact. i think they're fruit? they're pretty cheap. good snack food. maybe? never had them before. i walk around aimlessly. rolling the bag of cranberries between my palms. tossing it in the air occassionally. catching and rolling it between my hands again. i bump into the the tired looking girl once more. exchange another round of smiles. she won't stop looking at me. can't tell if she thinks i'm cute or crazy. this guy tossing cranberries in the air as he walks by? i purposely wander the store some more hoping to bump into her again. i do. her eyes stay on me as i walk by. smiling. her friend's looking at me too. talking about me and my cranberries. probably thinking i'm some cranberry stalker. this crazy guy and his cranberries. following tired looking girls around walmarts hoping to freak them out. i guess that is what i'm doing. but actually i think this girl is kind of attractive. was thinking maybe i'd ask her to join me for a mcgriddle in the morning. now that i know where a mcdonald's is.
i give up. decide to check out from the walmart and go to bed. too tired to chase tail. before i make it out the door, the wide-eyed overly-concerned effeminate guy grabs me. "he listen i know of a safe street a few blocks away if you want to try that?" "no, no i think i'll be alright here." "ok. well take this. will this help?" he shoves $5 in my hand. i suddenly feel sleazy. i'm not asking for money or pity. "no, really, it's not necessary." he closes my hand over the $5 bill. refuses to let me give it back. realizing i have no choice in the matter i say, "thank you." and continue to walk out of the store.
wander around the store some. practically run into a girl. pretty but looks more tired than me. can't be a good sign. we smile at each other. sense her still looking at me as we go our separate ways.
i eventually get an employee's attention to ask a few questions. a wide-eyed, balding, slightly effeminate fellow. "excuse me. i was just wondering if this is relatively safe area. i'm travelling thru and will have to stay in my car overnight..." he looks at me. his wide-eyes widening. with a slight lisp he says, "oh my god... why? do you not have a place to stay?" "no, been travelling the last couple months. living out of the car. been mostly staying at walmarts and truck stops." "well why?" "just wanting to see the country. explore..." sense he's a little concerned. "oh my god, okay i mean yeah it's pretty safe here. i mean, i live a few blocks away and have never had a problem. but you're gonna sleep in your car in the lot here? oh my god..." sense he's a little too concerned now. "no really it's alright i've been doing it for a while now." "ok? well, you may want to park over on the side or by the mcdonald's. it gets more traffic and might be safer there." more traffic is actually a bad thing. i don't bother explaining though. "okay, well thanks. just wanted to check.i'll figure it out." he offers his hand. i shake it. "well, you take care of yourself. i mean it. take care of yourself." "i will. thank you (can i go now)." "be safe." "okay (how about now)." i make my escape. eventually.
i find something to buy to make my trip into walmart not completely fruitless. maybe some fruit? a bag of cranberries to be exact. i think they're fruit? they're pretty cheap. good snack food. maybe? never had them before. i walk around aimlessly. rolling the bag of cranberries between my palms. tossing it in the air occassionally. catching and rolling it between my hands again. i bump into the the tired looking girl once more. exchange another round of smiles. she won't stop looking at me. can't tell if she thinks i'm cute or crazy. this guy tossing cranberries in the air as he walks by? i purposely wander the store some more hoping to bump into her again. i do. her eyes stay on me as i walk by. smiling. her friend's looking at me too. talking about me and my cranberries. probably thinking i'm some cranberry stalker. this crazy guy and his cranberries. following tired looking girls around walmarts hoping to freak them out. i guess that is what i'm doing. but actually i think this girl is kind of attractive. was thinking maybe i'd ask her to join me for a mcgriddle in the morning. now that i know where a mcdonald's is.
i give up. decide to check out from the walmart and go to bed. too tired to chase tail. before i make it out the door, the wide-eyed overly-concerned effeminate guy grabs me. "he listen i know of a safe street a few blocks away if you want to try that?" "no, no i think i'll be alright here." "ok. well take this. will this help?" he shoves $5 in my hand. i suddenly feel sleazy. i'm not asking for money or pity. "no, really, it's not necessary." he closes my hand over the $5 bill. refuses to let me give it back. realizing i have no choice in the matter i say, "thank you." and continue to walk out of the store.
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