2025-02-16
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"somebody help. please help."

did someone just say that? I looked up from the sidewalk to find the source of the voice.
a moped drove past carrying a four year old blond girl, looking the other direction. was it her?

I stop and think. is this a kidnapping scenario? someone really ought to do something if it is.
I focus on the moped, trying to remember any important details, like the license plate number: 781E381
I get out my phone and continue watching as the moped driver stops at the intersection ahead. he's wearing a dark blue wool serrape style jacket with white diamonds.
he looks back, sees me holding the flip phone to my ear, scowls, and gets off the moped. the little girl goes running in the opposite direction.
fifty year old caucasian male, tanned weathered skin. brown-grayish oversized beanie. he's looking around in some trash for something, holding a terra cotta planter.
the stubble and acne scars combine unpleasantly with fine surface veins.
I mentally rehearse what I'm going to say to the 911 operator who will surely pick up any time now. 781E381
I look down at the flip phone and realize I'm holding it upside down, flip it around, and manage to press the '9' key.
when I look back he has covered a lot of ground between us and is swinging a pair of long metal fireplace tongs around. dead gray eyes.
"woah, woah woah woah. hold on." I realize that I'm quite involved now.
he walks toward me with an expectant expression.