This is a long story, but well worth reading. It seems that most everyone has had an experience at some point in their life that really sticks out and becomes impossible to forget.

THIS IS THE STORY OF  "MY" EXPERIENCE

Have you ever had that 'gut' feeling that you were being followed? That your every move was being watched? Well...I experienced that feeling one day while shopping at Wal-Mart.

I went to the store that day to pick up a few things I needed around the house. I knew what I was going for, so my moves were very deliberate. I intended to go in, get the things I needed, and get out as fast as I could. I had other, more pressing things that I needed to do that day.

My plans were changed by a Little Old Lady. You know the type. Petite, gray-haired, worn and tired, sweet looking woman. I pictured her as "my own" Grandmother. Hard working and as innocent as the day is long.

I was in the beauty aids department to pick up some hair-ties when I first saw this woman. Of course there were hundreds of people in the store that day (being a Saturday), and the only reason I really noticed her was because she was staring at me with these really sad eyes. I mean, I thought she was going to start crying. Then, when she knew that I had seen her, she put on this really big, sheepish grin.

Why would this Little Old Lady be grinning at me that way? I just simply wrote it off as my own paranoia, picked up the hair-ties I had come for, and moved on.

The next thing on my shopping list was toothpaste and a toothbrush. Off to that department I went.

Well.......Who do you think showed up there?

Yep.....There was that Little Old Lady again and she was still staring at me with that same sheepish grin.

Well, maybe she (by coincidence) needed toothpaste and toothbrush too. Toothpaste and toothbrush.....Everyone needs toothpaste and toothbrush, and I was just in too big a hurry to worry about it. I put the stuff I needed in my shopping cart and moved on. The only thing about this encounter that really puzzled me was that this time she came closer. Before, she had seemed to be keeping her distance. Oh well.

My next stop was the electronics department.  I was looking for an Uninstall program that I had heard about. Over the past two and a half months I have added and deleted so much from my computer that I wasn't sure anymore what was what. I had heard that this program would clean up my hard drive and get rid of files that were just taking up room and no longer needed. This was taking a lot longer than I had anticipated due the fact that customers never puts things back where they found them. Graphics programs were mixed in with games etc. I had to look through almost every program there and still didn't find the one I was wanting.

In my state of concentration, I didn't notice "her" standing there. I turned to look for the program in another section and almost ran right over this poor Little Old Lady. Another coincidence? I really wanted this program so I kept looking. Next thing I know, this Little Old Lady was no more than two feet from me. When I looked at her she had these really big tears running down her cheeks. Forget the Uninstall Program!!!!! I'll pick it up some other time.

Enough is Enough!!!!!!! I asked, "Ma'am,  is there something wrong? Can I help you with something?" She started crying uncontrollably and said, "No.....I'm sorry. I don't mean to be acting this way", and then just walked away. I'm left standing there feeling as though everyone around was staring holes through me. What had this mean woman done to this Little Old Lady?

Well.......I'm intrigued now but I'm still in a rush. On with my shopping. There's nothing I can do for her.

The only thing left that I came for is a couple of towels. My towels are becoming tattered and torn. I'm thinking that I'll pick up a couple each time I go shopping until I have a new set built up. Off to this department I go.

As I'm picking out the COLOR of towels that I want, lo and behold, there she is!!!! Little Old Ladies need towels too I decide. But.......Have you ever seen a small child peeking around the corner at you when they know they've done something wrong and they want to see if you have noticed their wrong doing? That's how she was acting. Standing at the end of the isle peeking around the corner at me. What is a person to do? By now I'm feeling really uneasy.   Geeeeze....By now I'm mad and scared half to death. What the heck is this woman's problem? It's at this time that I let my curiosity get the best of me. I'm going to find out what the heck is going on here.

I devised a plan. I don't need men's underwear. I didn't come to the store to buy any kind of clothing but I figured if she followed me to the men's underwear section I would surely know that I had been picked out (for some reason) to be followed. Why would this Little Old Lady need to be in the men's underwear department? Off I go.

I'm thumbing through the underwear (probably misplacing everything like the computer programs were). I'm not really looking at the underwear. I'm watching out the corner of my eye. If she shows up here, I'm gonna confront her!! I'm gonna find out what is going on here. Why has this Little Old Lady picked me out to stalk? That's how she's making me feel.......STALKED!!! I know I'm talking about a 70+ Little Old Lady here, but she's stalking me and I want to know why.

Here she comes. This time she comes right up to me.  Still with big tears in her eyes, she reaches out and touches me. Gently, with trembling hands, she touches me. Wow!!! What have I gotten into? Again I ask her if there is something I can help her with. It's at this time that a younger woman walks up. This woman was about my age. The woman takes the Little Old Lady by the sleeve and pulls her away from me. I hear her saying, "Come on Mom, you're scaring this lady to death." I hear the Little Old Lady say, "You know I can't help it, it's her.....it's her!!!"  "No mom, it's NOT her", I hear the younger woman say.

It's who? I'm thinking. Now I get my nerve up and confront the younger woman. "What's happening here?" "Have I done something?"

THIS IS WHAT I'M TOLD

Two years ago (on this very date, if you can believe it), it seems that this woman's youngest daughter was killed in an auto accident. I'm told by the younger woman that I'm the 'spittin' image of her sister....the Little Old Lady's daughter. She was on her way to work when she was hit head-on by a truck. I'm told that not only do I look exactly like her, but that I also walk and even sound like she did. I even dress like she did. This is eerie!!!!

I'm starting to understand and really feeling sorry for this poor Little Old Lady. I remind her of her lost daughter.   Now I know why she has been acting the way she has. I'm also feeling a bit guilty too. Here I was having ill feelings towards this Little Old Lady, and the entire time she was in anguish. How in the world could I ever feel good about my self again? I'm feeling like I need to do something to make it up to her. But what?

I'm told by the younger woman that I won't be bothered again.....she'll see to it. I tell her not to worry about it......I understand. She takes her mother by the arm and leads her away.

I'm totally worn out. My head is spinning. I'm getting out of here. I have everything I came for (minus the Uninstall Program, which at this point, I'm not interested in anymore). I'm checking out.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

I'm in line at the check out counter when I hear this voice.

"Ma'am..."  I turn around and THERE SHE IS!!!

"Ma'am, may I ask a favor of you?"

What can I say?  "Of course", I say.

"Are you in a real big hurry? If not, would you allow us to go ahead of you so I can talk to you while my daughter checks us out?"

Well.......I'm not about to say no. Not after what I've learned. I let them ahead of me as the younger woman apologizes the entire time for her mother. I tell her not to worry about it. I really don't care, and I'm in no hurry.

These people have two shopping carts piled high. This is going to take a while I'm thinking. I hope this Little Old Lady doesn't break down again and cause another scene. That's all I need. She didn't, she just spent the time telling me all about her daughter and apologizing herself for the way she had acted. All went well..........considering the circumstances.

Finally they were done checking out and it was my turn. Just as the two women were about to leave the check out lane.....another favor. What could it be this time?

"I know this is a lot to ask of you" she says, "but my Josie (well.....at least my name ain't Josie) was taken from me so suddenly. We didn't get the chance to say BYE to each other. You will never see me again, but I need for you to do just one more thing for me.......if you can."

"Sure", I say.  What else could I say?

"Since my Josie didn't get the chance to say goodbye to me, and since you remind me so much of her, would you do me this one last favor?"

"If I can", I reply.

"As I'm going out the door, will you just yell Goodbye Mom to me? It would mean so very much to me."

I'm looking at this Little Old Lady and at her daughter. Her daughter has this pleading look on her FACE as if she is trying to tell me how important this simple gesture could be to her Mother. I agree. At this point, all I want is to get checked out without another scene. I want to get out of there and go home.

The cashier is totaling my purchase as the two women head for the door.

I look up and yell, "Bye Mom!!"

She turns around and yells, "Bye Josie.......I love you."

Out the door they go.  Wow......I'm glad that is over!!!!!!

"That will be $206.64 Ma'am", the cashier says.

"For hair ties, toothpaste, toothbrush, and two towels? I'm afraid you've made a mistake."

"No.......No mistake.  That includes you Mother's merchandise.  She said you were paying for hers' too."

"My Mother!!!!! She's not my Mother. I've never seen those people before today."

"I heard you say Goodbye Mom when she left", the cashier says.

"That's just because she asked me to. You see........She lost her daughter a couple of years ago, and I guess I look like she did.  I was only doing her a favor by telling her bye."

"Well, someone has to pay for their stuff, and they said you were going to", says the cashier.

"Well.......I'm not!!!  I'm no relation to those people, and I didn't tell them that I would pay for their stuff."

By this time, I don't know who was more upset.....Me or the cashier. I guess maybe she was worried that this money would be taken from her pay check if her drawer came up short.

All of a sudden, the cashier informs me that she has heard about this scam before. Supposedly, I come in with these people, fill up their shopping cart, pick out only a few items for myself, and then try to get out of paying for all the items they walk out the door with. I assure her (unsuccessfully) that I had no part in any scam. It seems that this is a scam, but that I'm one of the victims......not one of the perpetrators!!! This is when she informs me that she will have to get the store manager. I tell her, "please do."

Waiting for the manager to get there, I realize two things. One thing that the Little Old Lady told me. I never will see them again. And one other thing....while we're standing here arguing, they're making a quick get-away. That's the way this fiasco was intended to be.

After hearing the story, the store manager decides that I was a part of the scam.

I tell him, "Listen....I don't know those people, I'm not a part of any scam, I'm not paying for the stuff they walked out with, and what's more.......I no longer want the things I came in for!!!! As far as I'm concerned you can take this stuff and stick it where the sun don't shine!! I'm leaving.......right now!!!!" I don't normally talk to people that way, but I'm mad and very upset. I just want out of there! I just want to go home!!

I'm informed that if I try and leave the police will be called. I take one of my business cards out, scribble employer and supervisor's name, the job phone number, my home address and my pager number on the back......and hand it to the manager. I tell him that my phone number and my boss's are on the card and if the police want to talk to me.....they'll know where to reach me, and that I was going home that I'd had enough of this.

I'm walking across the parking lot headed for my car when I hear yelling behind me. I look back and see two security guards running after me. It looked as if a crowd of 1000 people had gathered to watch this. Hind Sight is 20/20 they say. What I should have done at this point was to keep going, get in my car, and leave. I had enough of a lead on the two guards that I could have easily made it.

But......knowing that I had done nothing wrong, I stopped.

"Ma'am......you'll have to come back in the store with us", one of the guards said.

"I don't think so........I've done nothing wrong and I'm going home."

"The store manager has my address and phone number. I can be reached there."

I turn to walk away, and all of a sudden I'm knocked to the ground. I manage to roll over onto my back. One of the security guards is pinning my arms down. I couldn't get up......he was a big man, and he had me pinned good.
Of course all of this bothered me, but not near as much as what the other security guard was doing to me!!!!!!!!!

the other security guard