The inexplicable, explicit warning was dropped without warning in place of punctuation in casual conversation. In of all places, from the face of an elder, standing in place in line at the grocery store. Twice. So it could not be mistaken.
I believe I will take heed and toe the line.
Hey, how are you? Good thanks. You? Sunny today but still cold. Yeah? Is the sky still there? [looking me dead in the eye, dead to rights? dead man’s hand? Aces and Eights…]
“Be Careful”
[alto, stop, halt] Befuddled, I muttered, “What?” But… It was too late, back to the everyday, How ‘bout those Red Sox?He and his wife were walking away.
“Thank you, have a nice day”
“Thank you, “ He turned to look back, “Just be Careful…”
Dafuq? It’s too early in the morning for this shit… Too many people, too many faces, some familiar, some strangers from strange places, different races, speaking different languages, coming for miles around to hear me sound off in tongues.
Flipping through my worn out memory banks, more like a Rolodex, to add a bit of context, The day before at the library. I was only there for twenty minutes. I’m leaving, he’s leaving, Same time? I got there before him. Didn’t register. Walking out. Do I want a ride? He didn’t ask where I live. License plate reminds me of Van Halen, “Ice Cream Man”, but I ain’t tellin’ him that. Ain’t sayin’ nothin’, I know it’s cold but I gotta get outta this pick up truck. Dafuq? He’s new in town, got a winter rental. Not far from here. I don’t care, this ain’t lookin’ good…
Thinking take a left, take a left, cool, he took a left. Don’t say, I will “get off” at the next light. Funny, not funny, nothing suggestive.
“You can stop here and I will walk home, thanks for the ride”
I slam the door shut and hit the ground walking, motherfuck! Bless my lucky stars, and anything else that rhymes!
The next morning on the walk and I still got “Mean Street” from the Fair Warning album Van Halen boppin’ through my head; another pick up truck at the red light ahead. Only vehicle on the road. Passenger side window rolled down. It’s cold outside… Really cold… Like 20 degree Fahrenheit cold… Minus Six Point Seven degrees C, for those of you in less civilized countries.
Weather only fit for Mad dogs or Englishmen and I ain’t either.
“Need a ride?”
I pointed at the watch I was not wearing on my wrist,
“No thanks, I like walking, have a nice day!”
What was the message? “Be Careful?” Beware of strangers offering lifts? Cool your jets? Stop collecting attention?
When I awoke the Dire Wolf, six hundred pounds of sin, was grinning at my window all I said was come on in.
“Dire Wolf” Grateful Dead
I think I will hole up inside for the winter.
Lost My Mindfulness 