Stranger

I am at the mall and walking toward my car. Out of the corner of my eye, I see an Oriental woman (Chinese, I think) dressed in decent sweats walking aimlessly in the parking lot. There is something decidedly strange about her appearance. Her hair starts somewhere toward the back of her head giving the impression that she has a huge forehead.

I notice she is trying to catch my attention. I have my shades on and I pretend I haven't noticed her. I know this can only mean trouble. I jump into the car and she comes over and knocks on my window. I roll my window down and wait for her to say something.

She says her car broke down and points into the distance to the other side of the mall. The other side of the mall is separated by a street in between and I have no way of verifying if she is telling the truth. She says she called someone and I hear her mumble about the cab and then she says that the bus fare costs 5 dollars and could I lend her a couple of dollars. I don't quite get the sequence, but I know she is lying. No bus fare here costs more than $1.50.

I am out of dollars. I want to make this quick. I have 40 cents in my pocket. Then I remember the quarters in the bag that I stowed in the trunk. I hand her $1.50. She mumbles thank you, but there is no genuine appreciation. I can tell she's been doing this over and over again. And I was just another sucker she managed to get some money from today. She walks away and as I drive off, I can see her searching for her next prey.