I was having lunch with several friends and as we walked up to pay our bill, there was a thin young man sitting on a stool holding a very small and adorable Chihuahua close to his chest.
I didn't notice him at first as I was talking to the lady behind me.
My friend,who is one of the kindest people I know, was ahead of me so she had struck up a conversation with the young man. When I finally noticed him, I made a fuss over the cute little dog.
There were several ahead of us so it took a few minutes to check out. Finally we paid and left. That was when my friend told me his story which I had missed while chatting and playing with the dog.
She said that he had just walked from Las Vegas. HUH?? How did I miss that. He said he had a sleeping bag that was good to zero degrees that he and the dog shared at night.
He also told her his wife had recently died and he was trying to get to his mother who was a minister in a small town about 30 miles from us. He said he was waiting at the restaurant as he use to work there.
Couldn't believe my friend had gotten all this out of the young man in just a few minutes.
My first instinct was, "We should give him a ride the rest of the way." Which my friend agreed to. Now I wouldn't have offered to take him by myself but maybe we could call her husband about going with us.
We looked around but he had disappeared. Good deed opportunity missed. I was at first disappointed and felt I could have at least seen if he needed any money.
However on the way home, my mind slipped to the dark side. I did live in Florida during Ted Bundy's heydays. He was a very good looking serial killer/ rapist who disarmed his victims with his handsome face and innocent look.
Now I am certain if this kid were a Ted Bundy want-to-be, pretty sure a couple of old ladies were not on his shopping list. Still his story sounded strange to me.
When I got home, I have to admit I Googled recent unsolved murders in Las Vegas. Nothing seemed to fit his profile.
Now my question to you. Would you have taken his story at face value and given him a ride home or would you have been leary?
1 year ago
The same sequence of reactions happened to me as I read this:
ReplyDeleteFirst, "why not give him a ride - 30 miles in a cat is nothing compared to on foot"
Second "wait a minute - What if he's a nut and this is a big lie?"
Marty,
DeleteWe seem to think alike--in stages.
If he and the dog had walked all that way, he would have shown it by his appearance: shoes, clothing, whatever. And now he only had a few miles to go, if he was telling the truth. I would not have offered a ride myself. Just to be on the safe side. :-)
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteMy friend said he carried the dog 90% of the way. She had tiny legs. I didn't notice his clothes for I was paying attention to the dog. I did think later, he should have smelled a bit ripe and he didn't.
Yes, I would have believed him but not give him a ride. He was probably waiting for someone he knows to pick him up and take him the last 30 miles. I'm even having a hard time warming up to the concept of using Uber rides. Don't get in cars with strangers is deeply ingrained and the one time I did, it ended badly.
ReplyDeleteJean,
DeleteHad I talked to him think I would have asked. Still I was impressed how much info she got out of him in a short time. When I was young, a man was killed by a hitchhiker about a mile from us so I have that fear also.
Sadly I would have. I say sadly because that has bit me in the ass before. However I refuse to be so jaded that I would have ignored him or not given him a meal or a ride.I know it is risky, but I am that girl. My husband is far worse, he would feed him, buy him clothes, take him wherever he wanted to go, offer him a job. My husband is a big softy.
ReplyDeletePeggy,
DeleteI understand for that is my nature and first instinct also and had he not disappeared, this might have been a different story.
Most likely I would not have engaged in conversation or fussed over the dog in the first place (New England reserve).
ReplyDeleteI did pick up a man stranded by a car pulled off the road one night. I was on my way home from a late night meeting. I mentioned it work the next day and my boss gave me a stern lecture about my ability to make wise choices. Well is was dark and the roads were pretty deserted and it was bitterly cold. The man's car had died and he was on his way to his night shift job where I dropped him off. I cannot imagine leaving someone standing out in below zero weather. Nor can imagine someone with nefarious intent would use that kind of set up.
Olga,
DeleteThat really was brave of you and could have gone sideways. I probably would have made a call for him but wouldn't have had the nerve to pick him up.
No, I probably would not have given him a ride. I've been in a car with a stranger and it did not turn out well at all for me. I might have given that young man and his doggie some money to help him get a ride.
ReplyDeleterobin,
DeleteI am so sorry you had such a bad experience.
Had I been talking to him, pretty sure I'd have tried to find out what his plans were for that last 30 miles.
After working for churches my entire career, we saw and heard our fair share of 'tall tales'.... For every TRUE one, there were nine that weren't true... I lost my trust in people --and still am not sympathetic in those kinds of situations. The one thing we were always told is not to EVER give money. IF you want to help (for instance, give them a night in a motel) ---go to the motel and work it out for them to spend a night there.
ReplyDeleteAbout a ride, NO---I wouldn't do it even with my husband or a friend in the car with me...
Too many crazies in this world now and way too many wanting a free ride!
Hugs,
Betsy
Betsy,
DeleteI am pretty sure had we found him, I'd have offered. It wasn't until I was going home that the doubts set in.
I too would want to, but wouldn't... and then would feel guilty for my lack of trust. But I agree that it's risky these days. Wish it were different, but my warning lights seem to be extremely sensitive.
ReplyDeleteRian,
DeleteYep, I am feeling a bit guilty now but then when we look at the world we are living in, perhaps it was for the best.
No, no, no! I would have offered him money...but then again that could've been a big mistake also. If he disappeared all so quickky, giving him money could've promoted him to robbing us outside the establishment.
ReplyDeleteIt used to be safety in numbers...not any more. You gals did the right thing.
Hootin Annie,
DeleteOf course he could have just gone to the bathroom but that took the decision away from us. I agree but still feel a tad guilty.
My overly-generous heart would have said "Hop in", but everyone above is correct. Having a little
ReplyDeletesweet dog is something that would grab others. I would have given him money. If he walked all the way from LV, another 30 miles would be nothing.
Susan,
DeleteHad he been in front of me when I heard, I would have offered right then. If he told the truth, Vegas is 1500 miles away from here. Hard to imagine. He must have hitch hiked.
While I may have believed his story, I would not have given him a ride. I just don't do that.
ReplyDeleteInger,
DeleteI later thought it odd that he gave my friend so many details in such a short time. I'm still wondering if it was true.
I hate to say, but I'm a bit of sceptic. Interesting tale, but I probably would have only wished him well.
ReplyDeleteMidlife Roadtripper,
DeleteThat was probably the safest thing to do but he was gone before I could even do that.
I would have been very skeptical, and certainly wouldn't have given him a ride. That said I would have tried to validate his claim and help in some other way.
ReplyDeleteWe do not live in that trusting world of long ago... any more, with good reason.
Brig,
DeleteIt is so sad how todays headlines make us leary of strangers. Everyday I find my self saying,"What is wrong with people?" Unlocked doors no longer exist.
I've given bus fare" to people several times, even though I was pretty sure it was a scam, I gave it just in case. But offer someone a ride...no.
ReplyDeletejoeh,
DeleteIf we had a bus station here that would have been a great idea. Somehow, it was probably fortunate he disappeared.
Sadly, I’ve become so mistrustful of people. We keep hearing stories all the time about how seniors have gotten scammed or hurt or worse on the news. It just makes me nervous.
ReplyDeleteKay,
DeleteYou are right. We are easy targets what with trusting natures and are too fragile to fight back. Really sad.
Definitely leery. Maybe I watch too many criminal shows, but people use cute dogs, puppies etc to lure others in, especially children who are then never seen again.
ReplyDeleteRiver,
DeleteI know, I watch the same shows. My initial reaction is always to help but give me a minute and I will start questioning.
I tend to take people at face value. I might have offered to buy him a meal but I doubt I would have offered him a lift.
ReplyDeleteFun60,
DeleteHad I been the one talking to him this would probably be a different story. I guess lucky for me, I got it second hand and he was gone.
I use to pick up hitch hikers regularly, especially if it was a woman or someone with children. As for Ted Bundy, I think I had a meeting with him once or someone just like him with bad things on his mind. I was swimming in a river by our house with my children and this young man started talking to me. When I left I said good-bye to him and walked up the hill to our house. I had no more gotten into the house and I heard a knock at the door. There was that young man and he wanted to come in. I immediately locked the door and shut the inside door and called my neighbor. I then looked out my window and saw two motorcyclists, one of them that same young man driving up the hill by our house. I think I dodged the bullet on that one.
ReplyDeleteSnickelfritz,
DeletePhew, that is totally scary and you definitely dodged the bullet on that one.
I may have mentioned how cute the dog was but nothing more. I have heard of many crimes involving men using dogs. Today there is way too much going on for me to want to give anyone a ride. I have sadly found out in the last year that people I thought I knew have been charged with crimes. So my trust of others has dropped considerably. Hugs sweet Patti and I am gad that situation ended okay.
ReplyDeleteMaggie,
DeleteI know, the neighbors always describe the killer on TV as being such a nice man. I remember when we never locked our doors at night. Sigh.
I wouldn’t have given him a ride without checking further on him including verifying he had, indeed, worked there and what mgr./owner would say. Hard luck strange story (did he gambl and lose his shirt if he really was in Vegas?), cute puppy, mother a church lady as though anyone religious can only be good — sounds like a scam to me.
ReplyDeleteRecall driving little traveled darkened 2 lane road after sundown
when on a driving trip through desert and farm area headed elsewhere. A station wagon filled with young people of both sex stopped on side of road. We asked if problem and they said yes so one young man wanted ride to that gas station/store hevsaid up the road ahead. He got in back seat. I turned to converse with him and keep an eye on him since our high school age son in back, too. I noticed headlights appeared some distance behind us leading me to think that was their vehicle and possibly this was a setup. I learned he did work in the area, on a farm as I immediately began personalizing our conversation — talking about how I had volunteered with a group to teach farm workers Eng. and recalled a young man and an older woman who were only in class a short time as had to move on to next area for harvest. We let him out at that station and kept going so don’t know if it was his wagon, but I’m pretty confident it was and we might have avoided a situation. My husband said later he just acted spontaneously to someone appearing to need help but should never have stopped. I think he was correct and I had mixed feelings at the time when he slowed our station wagon near them. I’d like to believe my concern was unnecessary but this day and age we can’t be too careful and would be wise to use common sense and caution.
Joared,
DeleteThat was quite a story and so glad it ended well. I am like your husband and my first instinct is always to help. Being a single old lady has made me a bit cautious if given time to think about it.
After all my years living on the edge, I wouldn't believe him.
ReplyDeleteMage,
DeleteI'm beginning to believe that is the general feeling these days. Sad.
I hate to think what I would have done. I might have given him the benefit of the doubt too. I'm glad for you that he was not there. You are right. We cannot be too careful even if it is a missed chance to be a good citizen.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
DeleteI know, the fact that he went missing saved me from having to follow through.
Of course I would have offered him and his dog a ride! And I wouldn't have asked my husband. Rather to trust than to miss out on a great conversation and a joyful car ride.
ReplyDeleteAdie Das,
DeleteI so admire your trusting nature and once was. We miss a lot by being cautious.
I try and live by : relax, nothing is under control! Don't always manage it though .. 😉
ReplyDeleteAdie Das,
DeleteA great way to approach life.
Miss you and blogging!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are still having adventures.
Gail,
DeleteThere you are. Sure have missed you and hope this means you will be back blogging soon.
I watch too much ID (Investigation Discovery). All true stories about the outcome of such kindnesses. Not so kind. Wouldn't have thought of giving this guy a ride.
ReplyDeleteGrannie Annie,
DeleteWell, there you are. Have missed you and hope you are back blogging.
There is just too much in the news these days to feel comfortable giving strangers a ride.
Hard to say whether I would have given him a ride or not. Perhaps if someone was with me.
ReplyDeleteI have picked up hitchhikers in the past. Years ago, I picked up a woman just outside the city when I was making the 4 hour drive to visit my dad. She was heading for a town just an hour out of the city. All the way she drank from a water bottle...that turned out to be full of vodka! By the time I dropped her off she was very drunk and wanted me to meet her family. No thanks!
Another time, I picked up a young couple carrying garbage bags. It was nearly 40 below zero and I couldn't leave them. They were on their way to the recycling center to turn in cans and bottles. I left them there assuming the cash they received would get them were they needed to go.
But I've also passed people on the highway many times, usually men, because I wouldn't feel safe letting just anyone into my car.
Eileen,
DeleteGlad you are back from your cruise.
Well you had two interesting experiences that could have gone south but luckily didn't. Do be careful.
Absolutely not! The big hole in his story is that his mother is a minister in a town just 30 miles away. Extremely unlikely that she had no one who would be willing to pick up her son who had already traveled so many miles. Had he worked at the restaurant before there wouldn't there have been someone there he could have called?
ReplyDeleteAnd the speed with which your friend heard the story says to this skeptic that it was something he had rehearsed until it sounded just right. In the end, the man was no worse off and you were definitely better off for not having a stranger in your car.
Carolyn,
DeleteThe last part was the part that worried me. Why would he tell a total stranger so many details of his life? She got that whole story in just a few minutes.
No you really should not have given him a ride. Not these days. I've watched too much Ted Bundy and Dateline myself to trust an unknown like this. However, I am sad our society has gotten to this point.
ReplyDelete