Mr. Creepy

Forget about skulking in dark alleys, some people are content with being creepy in public places in broad daylight.

On a particular afternoon a few weeks ago, I had decided to head downtown to spend my lunch break strolling in a park that I really like yet rarely frequent. Besides wanting to get outside to enjoy lovely spring weather, I had ambitions of finishing up a roll of film during my outing. Upon entering the park, I saw at a distance a man walking my direction. Nothing unusual about that, this park is frequented by many people on their lunch break. As soon as he sees me, however, he makes a quick right turn and proceeds through some bushes. I also turn because it's the direction I need to go for the afore mentioned photo taking.

As I pause to finish a text message, I begin to have the funny feeling that I'm being followed and notice that the man is walking parallel with me, yet still at a distance. I take a few steps, he takes a few steps. I pause, he pauses. As I pause again to pretend to look at some sculptures (really it's to figure out what to make of the guy and get a good survey of the other people in the park) I find that he's now sitting on a large rock, yet looking back over his shoulder at me.

I once again proceed towards the object of my photographic endeavor, walking more briskly this time. I glance back to see if I'm being followed. Nope, no sign of him. Wait. Oh yes, there comes the floating head from behind a big rock. There he stands just staring at me and there I stand just staring back, in disbelief that he thinks I have no idea he's watching me. "Oh no, if your body's behind a giant rock, there's no way I'll notice a head sticking out from the side of it!" Come on. As I continue on, I have to walk through an area of tall shrubbery and evergreens. This is an easy place for someone to lurk, however, there are still people around chatting, landscaping, reading, etc. so I feel in no real danger.

Suddenly, dunt-dunt-duh ... the phone rings and I begin to explain to my friend the events of the afternoon. I sit down in a spot that's a bit blocked from view by anyone approaching from behind. This happens to be right beside the object I wish to take photos of. Within a minute or two, mr. creepy crosses the large walkway infront of where I was sitting, heading in the direction away from me. I continue to hang out and give my friend the play-by-play. Meanwhile, good old mr. creepy "disappears" behind some bushes on the other side of the walkway. Oh yes, most of his body is hidden from view, but there comes the floating head again bobbing up and down between the hedges. Every now and then he'd disappear from view for a bit, but sure enough, 'bloop', up pops the head again. I just stood on a ledge watching him, still entertained by the fact that he probably honestly thought I couldn't see him or that I had no idea he was watching me. By this point, about a half hour had transpired from the time I entered the park. Finally I lost sight of him in between the bobbing and then a few minutes later I saw the back of his red shirt in the distance as he walked away, or at least, as he appeared to be walking away.

Now was the time for me to make my move. I got off the phone and began checking out the angles of what I wanted to photograph. It was a structure that I could step inside, and sure enough, about a minute or two after I did, out pops mr. creepy from the bushes, only I think he had lost sight of me this time, as I noticed him searching around a bit. As he did, he came right up to the structure before seeing me inside. This was the closest he'd come and it was at this moment I decided to whip out my camera and point it right at him, and that was the end of mr. creepy. He disappeared really quick after that. When I was ready to leave, I kept looking around to see if I was still being "secretly" followed but nope, no sign of him. Still, I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until I was on my scooter in traffic again. Ya, one of the few times I was ever actually relieved to be in traffic.