A few years ago, I was walking with my friend and our dogs through a little shopping center. As we walked by the CVS, I saw a man standing outside the doors to the store wearing oddly fitting clothes and muttering to himself. I started watching him, because I wasn't sure how cognizant he was about people and the space around him ... and I wanted to be out of the way in case something went sideways.
As I was watching, he looked up and we made eye contact. First rule of how to act when someone or some animal is acting strangely: Don't make eye contact. It encourages engagement.
"Shit!" I muttered to my friend "Now he's probably going to follow us," I was whispering, I didn't want to bring any more attention to myself than I already had.
"WHAT?!" Lauren yelled, "WHO's following us?"
"Don't look back - keep walking." I instructed, hoping to salvage the situation.
About three minutes into the walk home, I heard some strange noises behind us and the dogs started dancing and tapping nervously.
"Do you hear that?" I asked Lauren, "What does it sound like to you?"
"Umm, someone making strange noises," she said flatly.
"Yeah, but, does it sound like someone is barking?" I asked her.
"Actually, yes, it does sound like that." she anxiously.
We kept walking but by silent agreement, we walked faster. It seemed like no matter how fast we walked, this guy was walking faster. I knew because he was still barking and it was getting closer and closer to us. Lucy was unnerved by the noise, she kept trying to turn around; she was practically walking sideways trying to keep this guy in her sight.
He was going to be right next to us any minute.
"What should we do?" Lauren asked.
Without warning, I spun around and yelled, "Hey!" I put my hands up in the universal stop gesture, "You are too close! You're making my dogs upset!"
He was still barking but he looked me in the eye and smiled. That made me mad.
I took a step closer to him, "I'm going to let the dogs bite you!" I said with the creepiest smile I could muster. "Over and over. I won't stop them. They're just going to keep biting you." I threatened. Thankfully, the dogs were barking, growling and sounding mean.
"Back off!" I made a pushing gesture with my hands. It was like I had magic in my hands. He took a few steps backwards. And Thank Goodness because Lauren, her dog, Bug, and Lucy were all behind me - waiting for me to take care of business.
"You stay there and stop following us!" I yelled, and then whispered to Lauren, "Come on, hurry, let's go"
We hurried through another complex to get to our houses but he didn't stay still. I could hear him walking and barking as we were hurrying through the courtyards.
In the time since, I have occasionally seen him when I walk Lucy, but I steer clear of him. He is always staggering around and barking, and other people are always trying to ignore him.
Just last week I took the windows off the Jeep to enjoy the beautiful weather we were having. As I came to a stoplight on the ride home from school, I noticed an odd man walking with a staggering gait. I was watching him because he was kind of close to the street. And then I heard it, the barking.
As he approached the corner, I was thinking to myself, Don't do it, Heidi. Don't do it.
I did it. I just couldn't stop myself. I turned my head and looked. We locked eyes.
"Hi Lady," He smiled at me and gave me a little wave.
I gave him a chin nod and a sneer and turned my head to look forward.
"Hi Lady," he sing-songed and then began barking. I stared straight ahead as he danced and barked, worried he would approach me in the wide-open Jeep. He kept it up until the light changed and I drove away.
I never learn my lesson.
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