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karen mcpherson's avatar

My favorite place is anywhere open where I can walk my dog; parks, nature centers, battlefields, places like that. You can't help but see how people interact with each other, how they treat their own dogs, how they interact with you without saying a word. Nothing creepy about this one. If you have a dog, you have to pay attention to avoid people who don't seem to like dogs or people with dogs who have no control over them. While you're at it, you might as well notice how they dress, are they walking like their feet hurt or like they are enjoying the walk, etc. The list just goes on and on about the things you can notice.

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Tom Bentley's avatar

I hitchhiked across Canada a lifetime ago with my best friend, and somewhere in Alberta, we were picked up by a middle-aged man in a suit and tie and late-model car. Five minutes or so into the ride, he brought out a small handgun from between his legs and held it in the air, and said "Just so you know there won't be any trouble."

I was next to him in the front seat and my friend in back. He drove us for at least a half-hour, and murmured some bland observations about the road, which we answered with bland "Uh-huhs." I kept glancing at him during the trip, but his face betrayed nothing.

He let us out, smiled and said goodbye. We were ragged youths, but we didn't offer any trouble. I remain curious what he was thinking about before and after displaying the gun, and if he picked up hitchhikers to terrify them, or was just a careful driver.

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