Val's Latest Weirdo Encounter

I was thrilled to see that the closest handicap parking space at Country Mart was available on Monday afternoon. Not so thrilled to see a dude sitting on the bench right by it. Meaning I would have an audience as I slid out of T-Hoe and got my knees limbered up. Occasionally people are sitting there, but usually it's a pair of them.

The dude was smoking a cigarette. Had his dark hair pulled back in a neck-level ponytail. He looked like a less-feminine version of Timothy Chalamet. Imagine when I got out and discovered the dude was a lady! Let the record show that Val does not have cat-hunting golden-eagle-eye vision!

The late 40s lady was quite congenial. She greeted me. Asked how my day was going. I shared that the car door had closed on me at the gas station, blowing shut with a gust of wind as I was standing by it. She hoped I wasn't injured. I assured her I was still kickin'.

When I came out with my cart/walker, and used my clicker to raise T-Hoe's back hatch, Lady jumped up and said, "Let me help you with that."

"Oh, no. That's okay. I've got it. I have to re-bag some stuff. That gal put a 3-lb bag of onions on top of my bananas!"

"I hate it when they do that. If you're sure, then..."

"Yes. It's fine."

When done, I pushed the cart/walker over to the side of the building. "I always leave this here, in case the next person wants to use it to lean on while walking in. I know I'm happy when I find a cart waiting."

"Oh, I understand."

As I was climbing up on the running board, before sitting down and wrangling my legs into T-Hoe, Lady said, "Would you be going by the old Patsy's Furniture over on Far Off Drive?"

"Nooo. I'm going the other way. Through School-Turn Town, and the back way over to Backroads."

"Oh. Okay. You be careful, and have a nice day."

"You too."

I knew when she started talking at the end that she was going to ask me for a ride. I was actually mulling it over when she gave the specifics. What would it hurt? She didn't LOOK dangerous. But you can't be too careful these days. What if she fell getting into T-Hoe? I have insurance. But I don't want to deal with a lawsuit. What if she had a box-cutter in her pocket, and decided to steal T-Hoe after I drove her over there? The old Patsy's is right by a highway entrance.

Thing is, I often go home that way. But this day, I was actually going the route I told her, because I had to get over to the Gas Station Chicken Store for crossword scratchers, since the Casey's where I got gas was out.

I still feel kind of bad. Even though I have no obligation to smoking ladies sitting on benches to drive them several miles across town.