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Guess what happened to me yesterday...
Yesterday, I went to Target after work to get an envelope to mail friend a copy of our CD, Heartburn. So, I drive on over to Target. I like to park near the back. I don't want to hit anyone with my huge SUV. And I don't want anyone to hit me. I get out of the truck and begin walking toward the entrance of Target. I always enter by the clothing/music/greeting card sections. I don't like entering on the grocery side. As I am approaching the entry, I notice a car driving rather slowly on the wrong side of the street. You're supposed to drive on the right hand side of the road. They were on the left. A white woman was driving the car. I thought it strange that she was driving so slow. And then I hear voices. The woman in the car is talking to or yelling at a black man who is walking along side the car. The man is on the sidewalk. The woman is driving on the wrong side of the road in the car. Actually, the woman was driving along side the man. The man was NOT walking along side the car. The man and woman are arguing back and forth. The woman is using all kinds of explicatives trying to get the man to get back in the car.
Now, mind you, Fishers is not the most racially diverse town in Indiana. As far a African Americans are concerned, it is me and this man walking on the sidewalk. I try my best to NOT be nosy, but can't help be drawn to this drama unfolding right before my eyes. I keep my distance and walk AWAY from the moving vehicle. But it is at that point that God speaks to me. He tells me that I need to get involved. And I tell God, "HECK NO!" I am keeping my distance. I don't want anything to do with whatever this couple is going through. Domestic violence is for the BIRDS!
Yesterday, I went to Target after work to get an envelope to mail friend a copy of our CD, Heartburn. So, I drive on over to Target. I like to park near the back. I don't want to hit anyone with my huge SUV. And I don't want anyone to hit me. I get out of the truck and begin walking toward the entrance of Target. I always enter by the clothing/music/greeting card sections. I don't like entering on the grocery side. As I am approaching the entry, I notice a car driving rather slowly on the wrong side of the street. You're supposed to drive on the right hand side of the road. They were on the left. A white woman was driving the car. I thought it strange that she was driving so slow. And then I hear voices. The woman in the car is talking to or yelling at a black man who is walking along side the car. The man is on the sidewalk. The woman is driving on the wrong side of the road in the car. Actually, the woman was driving along side the man. The man was NOT walking along side the car. The man and woman are arguing back and forth. The woman is using all kinds of explicatives trying to get the man to get back in the car.
Now, mind you, Fishers is not the most racially diverse town in Indiana. As far a African Americans are concerned, it is me and this man walking on the sidewalk. I try my best to NOT be nosy, but can't help be drawn to this drama unfolding right before my eyes. I keep my distance and walk AWAY from the moving vehicle. But it is at that point that God speaks to me. He tells me that I need to get involved. And I tell God, "HECK NO!" I am keeping my distance. I don't want anything to do with whatever this couple is going through. Domestic violence is for the BIRDS!
So, I keep walking. And God tells me that there is a baby in the car. To confirm the Spirit, I take a look as I am walking by (now behind the car). And sure enough, in the back seat of the car is a baby seat. The baby is covered by a blanket. And babies should be covered by blankets when they are outside. You don't want them exposed to these elements. They could be toxic for the baby. I digress, though. I still keep walking. I don't want anything to do with anything. As I pass the car on the verge of entering the first set of double doors, I think to call 911. This seems like a job for the police. But, I resist again. I don't want to get involved. Always keeping my eyes open on what's going on, I notice the car (and man) move pass the entry way.
Just as I enter the store, my eyes meet the eyes of the man. Careful not to make direct eye contact, I try to avoid his glare. I can't do it quick enough though. My eyes meet his and we instantly acknowledge the awkwardness of this situation.
Yet and still, I keep going. By now, I noticed that the man has actually turned around. You know, a car just can't turn around anywhere. And the woman in the car did not feel comfortable driving on the wrong side of the road BACKWARDS. So, now, I think, I need to make a move. I duck into the aisle. You know when you walk into Target, there's that first section that has little sale items. On the Starbucks side, they have $1 items. On the greeting card side, they have discounted dry goods. I try to become unnoticed, but am not successful. Brother Man walks into Target and comes straight toward me. I guess he felt that I was the only person in Fishers he could identify with. So, I step up to the plate. This was OBVIOUSLY meant to be. I put on my big boy shoes and do what I have to do.
He says to me, "Can you believe that man? She trippin'! Trying to front on me in front of all these people."
Yet and still, I keep going. By now, I noticed that the man has actually turned around. You know, a car just can't turn around anywhere. And the woman in the car did not feel comfortable driving on the wrong side of the road BACKWARDS. So, now, I think, I need to make a move. I duck into the aisle. You know when you walk into Target, there's that first section that has little sale items. On the Starbucks side, they have $1 items. On the greeting card side, they have discounted dry goods. I try to become unnoticed, but am not successful. Brother Man walks into Target and comes straight toward me. I guess he felt that I was the only person in Fishers he could identify with. So, I step up to the plate. This was OBVIOUSLY meant to be. I put on my big boy shoes and do what I have to do.
He says to me, "Can you believe that man? She trippin'! Trying to front on me in front of all these people."
And I just stand there and give my 'I'm pretending like I really carry what you are talking about look'. I say, "Mmmmhh..."
He syas, "Man, she all callin' me this and that. (You fill in the blanks.) You can't be callin' me that in front of all these white folks."
And I say, "Riigghhtt... Mmmmhhh..."
"I'm not even from here. I'm from Louisiana," he says.
And then I turn the tables on him. "Is that your baby in that car?"
He answers, "Yeah, it is. But she actin' a fool."
Staying on track, I'm bring him back. "So what are you gonna do?"
He replies, "Man, I don't know. She trippin'! Following me around. Calling me names..."
And I keep the focus on the important figure in this situation, the baby. "Yes. So, if that's your baby, what are you going to do?"
He replies, "Man, I don't even know."
And then I impart some knowledge. "I ask you that because I see too many of our young people growing up without a father in their life. There are too many of us not raising our kids."
And he says, "You right man. You right."And then I ask again, "So what are you gonna do?"
In response, "I guess I'll get back in the car. Thanks man. Hopefully I'll see you around."
With that being said, the young man walks back outside. I believe he got back in the car.
What an experience!?!?
With that being said, the young man walks back outside. I believe he got back in the car.
What an experience!?!?
