Inner Voice

I heard, with incredible clarity, my inner voice for the first time in the early weeks of October 2008. I had to go to the bank near my home to deposit a rent check for my mom. After that I planned to walk a few stores down to the grocery store where inside my bank resided as a 'hole in the wall'.

So in I walked to my mom's bank, purse and check in one hand - infant and car seat in the other. My daughter Kaylee and her friend Hannah in tow. At the time, I thought nothing unusual of the young man walking back and forth outside. He did catch my attention though because he was alone and didn't seem to have any apparent agenda. After the deposit and withdraw, I took a large sum of cash from the check and stuck it in my purse.

Oddly, the young man outside followed us as we walked toward the grocery store from my mom's bank, still I was unafraid and thought it to be just coincidence. As we passed by the haircut store that my kids frequent I thought it would be a good time to 'bob' Kaylee's dependably tangled hair, so we did. 15 minutes later Kaylee lost a few inches of hair but gained a shiny red balloon and a lollipop to boot.

Onto the grocery store slash fast food style bank of America. To get to the bank in the back of the store one must conveniently pass the coffee cart and its invigorating aroma. yummm, a blended coffee sounded great, but i restrained myself and decided to deposit the cash first. So I passed up the faux energy boost and stood in a long line at the bank. As I scolded Kaylee and Hannah for playing with the velvet ropes I again noticed the same young man hanging around the ATM machines. This time i caught him staring at me. Now I was curious. It was obvious he was not there to shop, he had no wallet out for the ATM machine. It was odd now.

Still, I stood in line. When the teller called me over I put the cash on the counter next to my wallet and ATM card. She counted the money and put it in her drawer. As she was printing my receipt this man scooted his way passed everyone in the long line to grab a mint from the candy dish next to me. Now his gang paraphernalia was apparent. He then walked back to the ATM machines about 5 feet away and waited. As I grabbed my receipt and picked up the car seat from the ground Hannah said with urgency that she had to pee. So I sent her in the ladies room and waited outside the bathroom door. I was in direct view of the coffee counter. I'm gonna get one I thought. Hannah came out and we walked toward the exit/coffee counter. And so did the young man, he walked out the door and waited by the lined up shopping carts outside. By this time I was still oblivious of his intentions and didn't put the pieces together. I guess I was trying to keep track of the kids and cater to my caffeine addiction. I can't even understand how I remember all the details because it wasn't until I got home to tell my neighbor that I felt targeted.

I ordered a blended Kona and two chocolate milks for the girls. At this point, things were going all too well. No one was crying, fighting or had peed their pants. Wouldn't you know it Kaylee just let go of her balloon. We all watched as it floated to the ceiling of Save-Mart.

"Sorry Kaylee, next time you have to hold it tight," I said as she stood and whimpered over the loss of her new found friend.

We all walked toward the exit sans one shiny red balloon. Just as we made it to the automatic sliding doors a very loud, clear voice from within said, "GET THAT BALLOON." It was such a strong directive that without question, I immediately turned around and herded the kids back into the store. At the moment I didn't think about this young man who just made clear eye contact with the purse over my shoulder and the fact that he ran off into the parking lot once I said lets go back inside.

As I turned back into the store an employee was simultaneously walking out of the bathroom, I asked if she could help me get the balloon. She agreed and yelled out to a bagger for help, he grabbed a chair and in seconds Kaylee had her balloon back.

After that escapade I sat in my car for a moment and reflected on what had just happened. All I could think about was the very loud, clear voice within that ordered me to "GET THAT BALLOON."