Tuesday, 23 June 2009

  • "I like your fish!"

    The sun was setting, the temperature was soaring, and there I was in high heels, a skirt, and carrying two rather heavy bags out of my local Kroger's Grocery. As I was loading my bags into my car, I heard it: "I like your fish."

    ?!?! 

    I turned to the grungy man that had stopped behind my car and gave him a half-smile and a questioning look. He stood there clad in a bandanna, shaggy gray hair, dirty clothes, and dirt spots on his aging face.

    "What?" I wasn't sure that I had heard correctly, you see. It's not every day that I get complimented on my fish...whatever that meant.

    "I like your fish...you know, the one on the back of your car," he said, giving me a friendly smile. I smiled back, thinking that that was sweet of him to say - this is Texas, after all, and we tend to compliment one another fairly often.

    "Oh, thank you!" I smile again, thinking that he's about to start walking again. No such luck.

    "My name is (not legible, but I thought he said Michael)...what's yours?"

    I think quickly, wondering if I should tell him my name or not, and then decide that there's no harm giving him my first name - especially since there are people walking all over the lot.

    "Allison. It's nice to meet you," I tell him.

    "I'm a pastor over at the Church of the Nazarene," he replies.

     Where did that come from?

    "Oh...well, that's wonderful!"

    He gives me a smile, nods, and agrees. We stand there for another few moments and then he simply says, "Well, goodbye, and God bless you!"

    "God bless you, too!" I reply, then go back to loading my groceries and hop into my car. I admit, I'm somewhat giggly at this point because the man - Michael? - was definitely an oddball, but I rather liked his upfront attitude about God.

    So I go about my merry way, taking special care to back my car out of its space. I notice that in front of me, the pastor has also pulled out. He's in a plain white car with a bunch of anti-abortion stickers on it.

    We get to the parking lot exit where we'll be able to make a turn out onto the main road, but suddenly I notice that he's stopped his car and is getting out- right at the road! As in, he's blocking traffic! There are people building up behind us, and I'm beginning to think that his car has died...oh, boy. Noting that there are indeed people behind me in case he tries something, I roll down my window to see if he needs anything.

    "Need some help, sir?"

    "No...Allison, I don't normally do this, but I was wondering if you were married?"

    "Um...yes. I mean, no - I'm engaged." I'm sure my face is bright red now, simply because of the confusing circumstance and strange question.

    The pastor's face was perfectly serene as he said:

    "Oh, well...like I said I don't normally do this, but it was just on my heart...you seemed so sweet and lovely, and I just thought that if you weren't married....well, maybe one day we could be...oh well. Good luck on your marriage. You have a good day!"

    And with that, he got back into his car and pulled out.

    After a moment of confusion, I, too, pulled out...but after making sure that I was going in the opposite direction from him. It took me another moment of pinching myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming, but then I called my mom and exclaimed, "MOM! I'm pretty sure that I just got a serious marriage proposal from an old man I've never met!!!!!!!!!"

    Oh...my...word. I don't know whether to laugh or be creeped out. Right now I'm doing a little bit of both.

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