A while back I used to walk all the time. In spite of the disbelief and occasional comments about my state of mind, my favorite time to walk was late at night. It's quiet and there aren't too many people around. The best time was in the spring, when flowers were coming out, or after a rain shower. Everything smelled so good. I had a retriever-cocker spaniel mix, Tucky, that loved to walk with me.

Friends would tell me I was crazy...too many dangerous people out there. I was going to get attacked one night, or maybe worse. I'd just ignore their remarks...I know they were concerned that I may get hurt, and I appreciated the thought, but I always managed to be very careful. Always alert and watchful ...with only the random street light to light my way, it was actually easier to keep track of a car that would seem to drive by more than once, or when someone else was walking home from wherever it was they'd been.

One night Tucky and I were on our way back home, walking through the grassy lot that ran along side one of this town's energy plants. I'd noticed a station wagon (yeah, it was that long ago) that had passed earlier, then had driven by again. The evening was perfect. Just the right temperature for walking and no one was in sight. It was after hours, so all the bars were closed. I pretty much had the whole neighborhood to myself. It was a beautiful night.

I was walking on the left side of the street, so it was easy to see this car coming back towards me. I watched as it got closer, slowed down, and eventually stopped almost directly across from me. This road doesn't have a curb...the car just stopped in the middle of the street. I stood where I was, watching as the driver's side door opened and a man got out. I remember him saying something like "hello...how are you?" as he walked around the back of his car and started towards me.

I have no idea why I didn't move. Maybe it was shock...I actually answered him..."I'm ok.." as he kept walking towards me. I'd let Tucky loose earlier, and I was holding onto his chain...a firm grip...and he started barking when this man grabbed me, pulled me around in front of him and told me to come with him.

I felt something cold and hard against my neck. I knew what it was, and there was no way I was letting him cut my throat. I held onto the blade of that knife with both hands...I don't remember feeling anything but fear. He pushed/dragged me back towards his car, while my fearless dog only barked. Soon he had the passenger door open, and I was wedged between the opening and the door. He kept trying to push me in, cursing and threatening me as I braced myself against the car. He had to release his hold of the knife against my throat, but he was strong and almost pushed me down onto the car seat. I knew if he did, I was gone.

Somehow I managed to push him back and pull myself away from the car. Now he was in the same spot I'd been. He lost his balance and fell back against the car door, and swinging as hard as I could, I hit him across the forehead with the dog's chain.

I screamed and ran, Tucky running behind me. Looking behind me, I saw the car speed away, tires screeching. The bar across the street was closed, but I noticed someone was still inside. I hit the door with a yell and starting pounding on it, asking the older gentleman to call the police. The son of a bitch told me to go home. Apparently he thought I was drunk.

As I turned to run, I saw the station wagon. He was coming back.

Suddenly, a police car came flying out of the alley behind the bar parking lot. (later he told me he'd heard me scream). He stopped in front of me and I told him what had happened, describing the car and the direction it had gone. I assume the driver saw the cop, because he turned down a side street, tires screeching again.. The police car backed up to chase after him...and stalled.

As I stood there in the street, hearing the car's motor turn over, I let out a laugh.
I felt like I was in a movie. And the bad guy was winning.

I looked down at my hands and saw tiny lines of red on my skin. They were shaking. I could hear the siren in the distance, and suddenly I felt like I was being watched. I heard a siren coming from the opposite direction, and soon another police car sped by. All I could do now was wait.

It wasn't much longer after that that the cop that heard me scream came back and took me by my house so I could drop off Tucky. I wasn't very happy with him at that moment.

I was at the police staion for a few hours. I managed to draw a picture of the man. They recognized him. He was famous for this.

The assisiant district attorney was a dick. He didn't see any reason to inform me of anything. However, the detective that had been at the station that night was a little more helpful. Unfortunately, he told me that since I couldn't id the guy in his own doorway (they took me by his house; he answered the door; I swear it didn't look like him, at least from the back seat of the police car), I wouldn't be able to get a line up. And even though he was known to do this before, even though he had a mark on his head from something he said he ran into, even though they couldn't put him in jail for anything, the courts still managed to charge him a fine. Personally, I would've preferred he sat in jail instead of paying money to some clerk.

His name is David Wisdom. He used to live in South Pekin, but he moved his family to God knows where. His wife must be someone real special. She knows what he does. I feel sorry for his kids.

The knife was just a pocket knife. Small and hardly dangerous, I guess, but I didn't know that...it felt huge against my throat. It was sharp enough to cut up my hands..and if he was determined enough...or pissed off enough...

I don't walk like I used to. It's not because I'm afraid, just not quite as much motivation...or time. But I should be able to do that whenever I feel like it. I never "asked" for it...I never dressed provocatively...old jeans, a couple of shirts (it was a bit chilly). This asshole came after me, and has a reputation, but that isn't enough to keep him from doing it again.

I wish I'd kept hitting him.








posted by Wanting at 6:54 PM