07/25/2006 - PARKING LOT CHARACTER
In this blog, I sometimes jot down weird things that happen to me. I do this so I don't forget about them. Usually, somewhere along the line, these notes I jot end up becoming characters or situations in one of my books.
This morning, after pulling my car into my parking space at work, I stepped out of the car and walked around to the other side to get my laptop computer out of the back seat. As I was opening the door, I saw a black guy running across the parking lot. He was dressed in blue jeans and a white t-shirt and was probably in his late forties or early fifties - certainly no older. He looked like a shipyard worker who was trying to catch a bus.
Sure enough, he called over, "I'm just tryin' to get that number six bus!" and he ran past. I pulled the laptop from the car and turned, hearing some noise behind me. The black gentleman was running up behind me and I instinctively pulled the laptop bag closer and stepped around the car door, placing it between myself and the man.
"You see a lot clearer when your ego's deflated," he said, out of breath.
"Ayup," I said politely.
"That's what I tell the brothers and the sisters when they ask. You see a lot clearer when your ego's deflated."
He nodded and I didn't know what to say.
"You're probably right," I said, sensing there was no danger at this point. I closed the car door.
The man stepped closer and said, with great conviction: "Remember this. You see a lot clearer when your ego's deflated."
And he ran off to catch his bus.