The confession had me thinking about something people don’t talk about enough. The weird behavior that shows up after it’s already over.
We’ll call him Owen.
It was a random afternoon, out running chores. And no afternoon of running chores is complete without a Taco Bell run.
I had just gotten my food and sat down when I heard my name.
“Danielle, is that you?”
I looked around. And behind me stood a man I couldn’t quiet place. Not tall or short. Nothing about him stood out. Just a guy holding a tray of food.
“Can I help you?” I said.
“Hey, how have you been? You remember me? Owen.”
Nothing. Blank.
“Sorry, no. I can’t say I do.”
He looked a little hurt. I felt bad for about a second.
“Sorry. I’m not great with names or faces.”
That seemed to brighten him up a little.
“Yeah we met a couple of months ago at the library. I asked you if you thought A Walk in the Woods would be a good read. You said you had read it and liked it.”
I remembered the book. Him, not so much.
Before I could answer, he sat down across from me. Well, great. There goes my peaceful doomscrolling.
“Okay, have a seat. Sure. Yeah, it was a really good read. Did you like it?”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Not really. Kind of dull. Predictable, honestly.” He said, taking a drink of his Baja Blast.
Not the answer I expected.
But okay.
I didn’t feel the need to say anything else.
If he wanted to sit there fine. I was going to doomscrolling’s and eat my chalupas.
“Why did you like it?” He asked as I picked up my phone.
“It was just a good, funny, light read about a man’s comical determination to walk the A.T.”
He stared at me for a second. Then, “Yeah, it really wasn’t.”
“Well, Owen, that is your opinion. So cool.”
That’s when I started scanning the room, deciding if I wanted to move tables.
“Sorry, Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like a dick. I just didn’t like it,” he said quickly. “Please don’t get up and leave. I just saw you and thought I’d say hi.”
“Like I said, that’s your opinion,” I said.
He seemed fine with that. “So, how have you been?”
“Owen, I’m sorry. I don’t remember you. And I need to finish eating and get on with my day,” I said as nicely as I could.
And that’s when Owen started acting like he was about to cry or hyperventilate. He bent over the table and put his face in his hands.
I looked around like this had to be a prank.
I let him sit like that for a minute or two. Finally, I gave in.
“Everything okay over there, bud?”
With a loud sigh, Owen sat up and looked at me with teary eyes.
“No. My mom and dad want me to move out, and I don’t what to. But they’re moving into a smaller house. My sister is getting married, and her finance is a real dick.”
I did not see that coming.
“Oh, Owen. That’s a lot. I am sure it’ll work out.”
Owen blew his nose and nodded.
I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing.
“Yeah, I’ve got a good job, but I don’t want to move out. Mom and Dad like having me around, so I don’t know why all the sudden they want to move.
“Well, I don’t know either, but that isn’t any of my business. You’ll find a place,” I said, packing up my food.
I was done with this conversation.
“I think it’s that douche bag my sister is with, telling them to do this. Everything was fine until he came along. Now all they do is talk about him. They act like he’s their son, and I’m a tenant.”
He started crying even more. I looked around. Not a worker or customer in sight.
Lovely.
“Owen, I really need to be going. Best of luck, buddy,” I said, getting up.
Owen reached out and grabbed my hand.
“Please wait. I think I’m going to have another panic attack.”
Jesus. I just wanted to eat.
“Oh, okay. Sit back. Everyone has them. Let’s just breathe, okay?”
Owen nodded, closed his eyes, and did what I told him. I gave him a minute.
Then, “Owen, you like music? What do you listen to?”
Owen shook his head no. Of course he didn’t.
“Who’s your favorite author?” I asked, still trying.
He shrugged, closed his eyes, and kept breathing.
I let him be and looked around awkwardly.
After a few minutes, Owen shook his head and opened his eyes. He looked over at me.
“Do you like impressions?”
What do you even say to that?
“Errr, not really. I don’t watch a lot of TV or movies, honestly.”
Owen whole demeanor changed instantly. He rolled his head around, hunched his shoulders and bent forward.
Then, in a deep voice I hadn’t heard before, he said “If they come for us, we are dead.”
“What the hell, Owen!” I said.
He looked dead serious, like he expected a better response. Then he let out a forced laugh.
“It’s a quote from the movie A Walk in the Woods. Did you seriously read the book and not watch the movie?”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“Okay, Owen, I’ve got to go. You seem better. Best of luck with everything.”
With that, I grabbed my tray, threw my half-eaten food away, and walked quickly to my car.
Every now and then, I wonder about Owen and his impressions, and if he found a place to live.
Odd day, that was.
Thanks for reading!
