Shelby Nichols Consulting

Have you ever just needed a change of scenery? After I took my kids to school this morning, I decided to make a pitstop at the coffee shop on my way home. For a change of pace, I went inside to order and got a frothy cold drink of yumminess.

The place was nearly empty, so I took a seat at one of the tables and enjoyed the atmosphere. I put in my earbuds to listen to a podcast on my phone and watched the birds in the trees out the window. While I was lost in my own little world, a man took the seat across from me.

It shocked that a man I didn’t know was invading my space, and I just sat there with my mouth open like a dummy.

“Hey. How ya doing? Are you listening to something good?” he asked.

“Uh… yes… I am.”

“What is it?”

I proceeded to tell him that it was a podcast about the significance of dreams. I probably shouldn’t have done that because he wanted to know why I was listening, and was it because I had weird dreams? Then he started telling me about some of the dreams he’d had.

As most of you know, I have a secret ability that allows me to read minds. So I listened real close to his thoughts, hoping to figure out why he was talking to me. Was he lonely? Did I look like an easy mark? Was he interested in me? At the moment, he was too involved with his story so I didn’t get far.

When he finally finished, I smiled. “Maybe you should listen to the podcast. It might help.”

He shrugged. “Sure. Where is it?”

I proceeded to show him my phone and where he could find it. During this time, I still couldn’t figure out why he was talking to me. Then he said he’d better get going, but it was good to see me. “Be sure and tell your husband I said hello. Maybe we should all go out to dinner sometime. When was the last time we went out together? Two or three years ago?”

Since I had no idea who he was, I managed to mumble a reply. “Uh… I honestly can’t remember.”

“Yeah? I think we went to that steakhouse out on Union Boulevard. I don’t remember the name. What is it?”

This was starting to feel like the twilight zone, because I’d never been to a steakhouse there. I didn’t even know there was one on that street. “Uh… I don’t know.”

“Oh well… hey did your kids get the dog they wanted?”

I brightened. If he knew that, he had to know me, right? “Oh yeah they did.”

He sat back down. “What kind did you get?”

So I told him all about Coco, and how we’d found him at the animal shelter. I kept studying his face, hoping for something to click, but it never happened. I must be going nuts.

Not able to take it anymore, I stood. “Sorry, but I’ve got to go.”

“Sure… I should go too. I didn’t mean to take up all your time.” He followed me out to my car and watched me get in.

Before I closed the door, he waved and I picked up that he’d enjoyed talking to me, mostly because his plan had worked like a charm. Who knew? It just went to show that all you needed was a little information, and it was easy to strike up a conversation.

People were just so nice. Now the next time I saw him, I’d think he was my friend, and it wouldn’t be long before he’d insinuated himself into my life. That’s when the fun would begin. And, if he played his cards right, he might get close enough to Manetto to take him down.

“Oh wait just a minute.” I grabbed my phone and quickly snapped his picture. “There. Now I can tell my husband that we met today. He probably wouldn’t believe it without the picture.” I took a few more, determined to find out who this guy was.

He quickly got in his car and took off, but not before I managed to snap another photo of his license plate number. Armed with this information, I knew I could track him down.

Now I’m off to visit Uncle Joey to show him the photo. If he doesn’t know the guy, I can head to the police department and look him up on my computer there. One way or another, I’ll find out who he is… But what the freak? How can just stopping at the coffee shop end up complicating my life?

I’ll keep you posted, but in the meantime, watch out for strangers who act like they know you!!