Sometime in early 1987 I began supplementing my day job with a weekend, nighttime, child care position. I worked for a twenty-four-seven child care facility near my home. It was a fun job. Occasionally I worked an extra shift, but it was a bit tiring because I worked until midnight or three in the morning. The Safeway store was on the corner of Northern Lights Blvd and Boniface Parkway where I turned to go home. After several nights, I became curious why there were always three cars parked at the entrance, to the back side, of the store. It seemed a bit unusual to pick that as a place to congregate. Some nights a few guys were standing beside the cars. It appeared like they were blocking the way to get behind the building. I wondered why they didn’t simply park in the section designated for parking. There were seldom any cars in the parking lot at that hour. Early one morning, I turned the corner before I remembered I intended to stop at the store, so I turned into the drive at the back of the building where the three cars were parked. There were several guys standing outside, just laughing and talking. Again, I wondered why they congregated there instead of a restaurant parking lot, or one of the department store parking lots. I thought it was strange they parked so they would have to move if delivery trucks arrived. Maybe they knew delivery trucks entered at the east side of the building, or maybe they knew the delivery schedule. In any case, I rushed in to buy a loaf of specialty bread. When I left the cars were still there when I drove by. I took two weeks off from my night work. When I returned I noticed the cars were not parked by the back entrance of the store. After a few weeks I didn’t notice. I’m not sure why, but I just didn’t look in that direction. Perhaps it was because I was tired and perhaps it was because I worked later than usual. Early in the morning of March 12, 1988, I stopped at Safeway’s for another loaf of specialty bread. It was about three-fifteen. I entered from the front side of the store. Again no cars were in the lot, but the three cars were blocking the west entrance to the back of the store. I rushed in and glanced to the checkout counters to the right. There was one clerk on duty. He was talking to a guy who I thought must be an employee or perhaps from one of the cars parked at the back side of the store. The kind of bread I wanted was sold out, so I simply turned to leave. As I turned to walk down an aisle towards the door the guy, who had been at the checkout, was turning into the same aisle at the opposite end. It was strange that we picked the same aisle. If either of us had turned on a different aisle I would have missed being a part of a miracle, or if I had shopped for anything else I would not be writing this book. I have a habit, good or bad; I don’t know which, of speaking to everyone. I’ve always thought some people need someone to acknowledge them or give them a smile. In any case, it can’t hurt anyone. This was no exception. I was ready to make a comment, even if it was a simple, “Hello,” but as I got a few steps from him he quickly turned and reached for a can on the top shelf, so I had no eye contact with him. I didn’t take my eyes off him because I still intended to speak to him. He never turned, so I continued on. He just stood there touching the can like he was going to pick it up. About five steps past him I came to a screeching halt. I just couldn’t ignore what I thought I saw. Since I had already passed him I’m surprised that he didn’t high tail it out the back. I turned around and walked slowly until I had passed him. I stopped and turned around to look at him. He was still touching the same can, and it looked like he was looking out the corner of his eye to see what I was doing. Once again; I walked a few steps past him, stopped, and turned again, and just stared at him. It looked like he was stuck in that position. I walked past him again. I pondered whether I should just forget it and go on home. However, I just couldn’t forget about it, so I walked past him again; he still hadn’t moved. It’s not my nature to be so bold, but finally I walked towards him, and said, “Excuse me; you look like, Elvis Presley.” He didn’t move. He pretended not to hear me. So I moved a couple of steps closer. Speaking louder, I said, “Excuse me, you look like, Elvis Presley.” This time he turned to look at me. He smiled, but said nothing. By then, I was standing right beside him, and I nearly screamed, “Wow! You really look like Elvis.” He looked directly into my eyes, smiled, stood for a moment, and then he grinned, and said, “If you don’t tell anybody, I won’t.” And let me tell you my knees turned to mush. I didn’t faint; however, I thought I was going to. I wondered if the color had drained from my face. DO YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE? Right now I need to say goodnight….even though it is almost 3 pm (NOW 5 PM) here in Alabama.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:46:46 +0000
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