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[2016.01.21] “Kmart and the Burrito Beat Down”

By David Wheeler

Word Count ~ 900

I wanted to punch him right in the face as his sneering arrogant looking face met my gaze. I wanted to charge across the restaurants floor and beat the living shit out of this man. I had no real of proof of him doing anything so there I stood doing nothing. He could have been innocent but the way he met my gaze told me he was guilty. Every fiber in my being told me he was a predator and was gloating this fact back at me.

It was either late summer or early fall of 1980. My mom had taken me along on one of her shopping errands to the neighborhood K-mart (remember kids the “K” stands for Kwaulity). Part of the reason I had agreed to go is because I was interested in checking out the Star Wars toys from the release of “The Empire Strikes Back” a few months earlier. Being nine I just couldn’t get enough of them even though I had plenty of them at home seeing these in on the shelves was kind of a religious experience. My mom went to do her shopping and I asked if I could go visit the toy isle to which she agreed. I remember losing myself into my imagination and memories I had of the movie. I was oblivious to the real world around me.

I never heard him walking up behind me.

Somebody grabbed my arm and spun me around. “I saw you pocket that figure.”

I was at a complete loss of what to say. I was nine and had been forcefully ejected out of my element. I barely got out the words, “What?”

He repeats, “I saw you pocket those figures.”

I start wiggling my arm and he holds firm. With my free arm I reach down and start patting the outside of my pants and turning my pockets into rabbit ears. “I don’t have anything.”

Still holding my arm he says, “You are going to have to come with me.”

Even then, at that age, at that moment, something inside of me told me this wasn’t right. I said, “No.”

His grip on my arm tightens, “I saw you steal those toys and now you are going to have to come with me.”

I try to back away again and feeling how he wouldn’t let go I started to squirm. “I don’t have anything.”

He turns his head and looks up and down each side of the isle. “I know you have a tory stashed and you are going to have to come with me.”

I was on the verge of shouting, “No.”

He glances up each end of the isles once more and then focuses on me. “I need you to leave the store.”

I start nodding, “Okay but I didn’t-“

“Leave the store now.”

I nod again and turn and half run out of the toy isle and make my way towards the entrance as I keep looking over my shoulder. I don’t see him anymore but he wasn’t that tall himself and couldn’t be seen over any of the isles walls.

I exit the store and look around as I try to catch my breath. He isn’t following me and there I am, alone. It’s the middle of the day and I am still in fear of the man so I start to walk off into the parking lot. It is then that I decide to ditch myself behind my mom’s car should she come out of the store having not found me inside.

I wait forever, which looking back was probably close to twenty minutes, and that is when I get an idea upon spotting a large family that was getting out of their van. I decided I was going to walk up behind them and use them for cover to get back into the store.

It worked, I got back into the store without issue. I broke apart from my gazelle family and started commanding my way around the store in search of my mom. I didn’t dare make contact with any of the employees for fear of being persecuted. I was convinced they were all in on it.

I ducked through isles and hid myself in coat racks, what kid doesn’t do this kind of crap, awaiting employees to pass the area, so I could emerge safe once more.

Eventually I found her. She was looking at various pieces of clothing and paid me no special attention upon my return another than to give me a smile. She had a couple of pieces in her arms and extended out her purse towards me saying, “Here, hold this while I go try these on.”

Feeling as if I was being abandoned I took the purse and backed myself up against a wall awaiting for her return.

I slid tried to look as non-conspicuous as possible but when I turned my head to a side is when I spotted the man. He motioned for me to stay where I was as he advanced upon me. He stopped just before me and with a look that has haunted me to this day, asked, “Is that your mother?”

I nodded.

“You stay with her and you don’t leave her side, do you understand?”

I nodded.

He turned and walked away.

I just saw echoes of that look in the man who was just checking out my daughter as she made her way towards the restroom in the back of the Mexican restaurant.

– End –

Copyright © 2016 David Wheeler. All Rights Reserved.