Alright, so you're getting out of Kroger (or the grocery store you usually go to). It's 8:00 p.m. and the parking lot is pretty full for it being 8 and all. As you're making your way back to you car from buying some groceries, you notice the people around you. It's so funny how they live in your town, probably even near your house, but you've never seen them before. You notice a man in his work clothes carrying his 6-pack of beer, Shiner Bock to be exact, probably off to see the game or just relax after a long day at work. You see a girl on her cell phone laughing like a crazy woman, probably on the phone with one of her girlfriends. You notice a woman pushing a basket full of groceries while trying to control her little monster of a child (makes you not want to have kids, EVER). And then you set your eyes upon the other entrance of the store. You see a woman pushing her basket back to where the other baskets are and a man going towards her. He takes the basket and you smile. You think to yourself, "Man, I can't believe there are still good people around"!
You turn away towards your car, it's kind of far because you told yourself, "the more you walk, the better". Just as you get near, you hear a scream. You turn around and look to see where this scream is coming from. Then you notice people looking towards the other entrance direction. You see the woman and the "nice" man arguing, kind of fighting. She starts screaming again and this time you can make out the screams, they're a cry for help.
She's saying "Help! Help me!"
You get a closer look and the man is pulling her purse away from her and you see him pointing a gun at her chest. This woman must be tough or she must have something valuable in that purse because she is not letting go! You can't believe this is happening, is this an act? Some kind of sick joke? Just as you start to realize maybe they're not joking, the man hits the woman, pushes her to the ground and runs away in her vehicle. She's lying on the ground and people start to realize what just happened. this woman was mugged by this "nice man" and nobody, not even you, did anything to help her. As you stand there dumbfounded, you notice some people leaving, others are going towards the woman, and the rest just stand by their cars and look from afar. You're close enough to hear what's going on or maybe the shock of what just happened has silenced the entire parking lot, either way you hear what people say.
The woman, now in tears, looks at the people coming towards her and asks, "Why didn't you help me? He took everything!"
A man tells her, "I though you were playing."
She responds, "Why would I joke about something like that?"
You hear silence once again. You think to yourself, "Why didn't I help her? Did you think she was playing? Why would this man do that?"
And the question really is, "Would you have helped?"
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
I just wanted to get some food.
Picture this:
The sun is setting, almost down, almost dark. It's really pretty. You never really noticed how nice it is. You're driving down your street. The most common street you know, maybe one that's just a few blocks away from your home. You pass a field (if there is no field by your home, then work with me) and see some kids playing soccer, others playing basketball. You know some of them; some you like, some you don't. You get hungry and there are a few options for fast food. You choose Sonic. Maybe you want some cheese sticks or maybe you just like Sonic because it reminds you of Sonic the hedgehog and you like that little blue guy. Whatever it may be, you go to the Sonic drive-thru.
But wait.. it's closed. In any other occasion, you'd be like man whatever. But you stop and think "What the heck?" There are men in black suits outside of sonic and you recognize these suckas. They kind of look like, I take that back, they look exactly like the men in black. Hmm.. but whatevs, you're hungry, you're on a mission to find yourself some food. So you go to Subway, which is just up ahead. You're pulling into the parking lot when you notice the lights are off and it's also closed. So you're getting upset, you see some people near the entrance and drive closer to get a better look. You reverse as fast as you can when you see that they're army men. Army men in their uniform just all huddled around next to Subway. So now you're really like, "What the heck?"! As you try to jet an army guy stops you.
He asks you, "Excuse ma'am, what are you doing here?"
You reply, "I just wanted to get some food."
He says, "Ma'am, we almost attacked you just now. You need to leave. Now."
You're like what the.. and ask him.. "What's going on here. I just went to Sonic and there were some weird people. Are they with you? What are ya'll up to?"
He looks at you, stares, looks nervous and scared, turns away and leaves. Now you're like "Oh shit, something's going down and it's not right." So you go home. the food will have to wait and your tummy will have to just suck it up. So you drive home, along the way you see five people walking. Two of them are your little sisters, one of them is a close friend, one is a girl who you recognize from high school and some big dude. You somehow lose your vehicle and join them walking. You guys aren't very far from your place so you walk home. You tell them what happened and they're not really surprised, except your little sister. She's crying and freaking out. The girl from high school comforts her and tells her everything will be okay. but you to think to yourself, "Will it? What is going on?!"
You guys draw near to your house and by now the moon is fully out. It's a full moon, beautiful in the darkness. Like a house away from home, you notice something weird on the ground. You also notice your dog, a vicious little shihtzu named Oreo, is barking at what's on the ground. It's this weird shadowed drawing of some kind of pyramid shape pointing down at a little house. Now, all of you get freaked out. You try to keep your cool but your ready to cry/scream like a little girl. You immediately think of the movie 'Signs' but wait, could this be? Is this for reals? Is this a warning? I mean why else would those men in black look a likes and army men be here? In your town? Right?
You're inside your house now, finally. Inside there's a different feeling. Your mom is cooking like a mad woman. Making bar-b-q, fajitas, rice, beans, hotdogs, spaghetti; basically a feast. Confused but happy, you eat. I mean you were hungry after all. Your aunt is there. She's a hardcore Christian.
You ask her, "Luz, what's going on?"
She says, "I don't know but I'm about to start praying."
You haven't been the best Christian but you do believe in God. Scared to die soon with your sinful ways, you ask her if you can pray with her. She says yes.
You're now outside in your yard. You notice the dirt looks like it's been cropped. Oreo comes out (your vicious little shihtzu) but he's not alone. He comes out with another Oreo. They're twins? Whatevs, you don't question it. You go on your business. The air outside is different then before. By this time, people are freaking out and going home to their families. With fear that it might be the end of the world and all, they decide it's probably best if they're with loved ones. That big dude turns out to be your cousin Alex but he leaves. That random girl leaves. Your sisters are inside with your mom and aunt. You don't know where your brother and dad are but you hope they're okay. Your friend is outside with you for a while but then leaves. Now you're alone with your twin dogs. Being emo about death, you stare at Oreo and realize how awesome he is. As you get closer you finally think, "What the heck? Oreo doesn't have a twin.." So now you're kind of scared because you don't know who this dog is, or what it is.. Yeah you think it, is he one of them. And sure enough, just your luck, it is! He's some kind of spy machine. You scream and try to run but BOOM! It's all over. You wake up. It was just a dream, or was it..?
The sun is setting, almost down, almost dark. It's really pretty. You never really noticed how nice it is. You're driving down your street. The most common street you know, maybe one that's just a few blocks away from your home. You pass a field (if there is no field by your home, then work with me) and see some kids playing soccer, others playing basketball. You know some of them; some you like, some you don't. You get hungry and there are a few options for fast food. You choose Sonic. Maybe you want some cheese sticks or maybe you just like Sonic because it reminds you of Sonic the hedgehog and you like that little blue guy. Whatever it may be, you go to the Sonic drive-thru.
But wait.. it's closed. In any other occasion, you'd be like man whatever. But you stop and think "What the heck?" There are men in black suits outside of sonic and you recognize these suckas. They kind of look like, I take that back, they look exactly like the men in black. Hmm.. but whatevs, you're hungry, you're on a mission to find yourself some food. So you go to Subway, which is just up ahead. You're pulling into the parking lot when you notice the lights are off and it's also closed. So you're getting upset, you see some people near the entrance and drive closer to get a better look. You reverse as fast as you can when you see that they're army men. Army men in their uniform just all huddled around next to Subway. So now you're really like, "What the heck?"! As you try to jet an army guy stops you.
He asks you, "Excuse ma'am, what are you doing here?"
You reply, "I just wanted to get some food."
He says, "Ma'am, we almost attacked you just now. You need to leave. Now."
You're like what the.. and ask him.. "What's going on here. I just went to Sonic and there were some weird people. Are they with you? What are ya'll up to?"
He looks at you, stares, looks nervous and scared, turns away and leaves. Now you're like "Oh shit, something's going down and it's not right." So you go home. the food will have to wait and your tummy will have to just suck it up. So you drive home, along the way you see five people walking. Two of them are your little sisters, one of them is a close friend, one is a girl who you recognize from high school and some big dude. You somehow lose your vehicle and join them walking. You guys aren't very far from your place so you walk home. You tell them what happened and they're not really surprised, except your little sister. She's crying and freaking out. The girl from high school comforts her and tells her everything will be okay. but you to think to yourself, "Will it? What is going on?!"
You guys draw near to your house and by now the moon is fully out. It's a full moon, beautiful in the darkness. Like a house away from home, you notice something weird on the ground. You also notice your dog, a vicious little shihtzu named Oreo, is barking at what's on the ground. It's this weird shadowed drawing of some kind of pyramid shape pointing down at a little house. Now, all of you get freaked out. You try to keep your cool but your ready to cry/scream like a little girl. You immediately think of the movie 'Signs' but wait, could this be? Is this for reals? Is this a warning? I mean why else would those men in black look a likes and army men be here? In your town? Right?
You're inside your house now, finally. Inside there's a different feeling. Your mom is cooking like a mad woman. Making bar-b-q, fajitas, rice, beans, hotdogs, spaghetti; basically a feast. Confused but happy, you eat. I mean you were hungry after all. Your aunt is there. She's a hardcore Christian.
You ask her, "Luz, what's going on?"
She says, "I don't know but I'm about to start praying."
You haven't been the best Christian but you do believe in God. Scared to die soon with your sinful ways, you ask her if you can pray with her. She says yes.
You're now outside in your yard. You notice the dirt looks like it's been cropped. Oreo comes out (your vicious little shihtzu) but he's not alone. He comes out with another Oreo. They're twins? Whatevs, you don't question it. You go on your business. The air outside is different then before. By this time, people are freaking out and going home to their families. With fear that it might be the end of the world and all, they decide it's probably best if they're with loved ones. That big dude turns out to be your cousin Alex but he leaves. That random girl leaves. Your sisters are inside with your mom and aunt. You don't know where your brother and dad are but you hope they're okay. Your friend is outside with you for a while but then leaves. Now you're alone with your twin dogs. Being emo about death, you stare at Oreo and realize how awesome he is. As you get closer you finally think, "What the heck? Oreo doesn't have a twin.." So now you're kind of scared because you don't know who this dog is, or what it is.. Yeah you think it, is he one of them. And sure enough, just your luck, it is! He's some kind of spy machine. You scream and try to run but BOOM! It's all over. You wake up. It was just a dream, or was it..?
I went to go wire some money to El Salvador.
So, I got a job. I've been working there a good two weeks now. I go in at 8 a.m. and get out at 3 p.m. It's pretty easy going and I like it. I try my best to be on time because I don't want to get fired, that would suck. But today, well, I just couldn't help it. Some things are just out of your reach. I kind of felt like I was super-glued to my bed this morning. The only reason I got out of bed was because.. well nature was calling. So, I'm running late. Very late. And I still have to run an errand for my folks before work. I rush to drop off Kayla and Michelle at school. Then come home to get ready for work. I leave the house by 8:10 and get to La Tortuga at 8:20. (La Tortuga is a store that sells mexican products and has a small bank inside that can transfer money to cities out of the country). My business going there was concerning the bank. You see my mom is in El Salvador visiting her family because her father is sick. She called last night that she needed me to send some of her money for his medicine. (It's not wise to take all your money to El Salvador).
The last time I went to La Tortuga was in May and the bank opened at 8:30 a.m. Well what do you know? Of course! They changed the hours of operation and don't open until 9 a.m. By this time, I had already called my boss and told her I was running late and I would most likely be there by 8:30. Pssh, more like 9:30. I had two options; wait until 9 a.m. so I could put the money in early, that way my mom can buy the medicine fast or come back during lunch time and make my mom and grandpa wait. Well, of course I went to work! haha totally kidding. Family comes first in my book. So I wait. And wait. And wait. You know why there's an extra wait?! Because the bank lady came late! Grr! Anywho, I wire the money and go to work. When I get there everyone's really cool about it... a little too cool. But whatevs I go on with my work.
Towards the end of the day when the office is quiet and all the patients are gone, my coworkers start bringing up the matter. They playfully tease me that I don't get paid when I'm late, at least I hope they were just teasing. They tease that I was probably drunk out of my mind last night and still hungover this morning. I tell them "No, I'm really sorry I was late. I had to transfer some money to El Salvador." I have no idea why, but they laughed like crazy and it was obvious they didn't believe me. I mean I guess it does sound a little farfetched if you didn't know what really happened. So now I'm teased about that and well, it is pretty funny. But whatevs.
The last time I went to La Tortuga was in May and the bank opened at 8:30 a.m. Well what do you know? Of course! They changed the hours of operation and don't open until 9 a.m. By this time, I had already called my boss and told her I was running late and I would most likely be there by 8:30. Pssh, more like 9:30. I had two options; wait until 9 a.m. so I could put the money in early, that way my mom can buy the medicine fast or come back during lunch time and make my mom and grandpa wait. Well, of course I went to work! haha totally kidding. Family comes first in my book. So I wait. And wait. And wait. You know why there's an extra wait?! Because the bank lady came late! Grr! Anywho, I wire the money and go to work. When I get there everyone's really cool about it... a little too cool. But whatevs I go on with my work.
Towards the end of the day when the office is quiet and all the patients are gone, my coworkers start bringing up the matter. They playfully tease me that I don't get paid when I'm late, at least I hope they were just teasing. They tease that I was probably drunk out of my mind last night and still hungover this morning. I tell them "No, I'm really sorry I was late. I had to transfer some money to El Salvador." I have no idea why, but they laughed like crazy and it was obvious they didn't believe me. I mean I guess it does sound a little farfetched if you didn't know what really happened. So now I'm teased about that and well, it is pretty funny. But whatevs.
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