Trusting my intuition.

Yesterday I saw her again. It’s been a while, three or four weeks at least.

I used to see her everyday in the park. We had both taken dogs from the same animal rescue shelter at the same time. A commonality of sorts.

Walking in the park has been one of the best things that have come from taking in the terrier-ists. Okay, so it’s still summer and that may not be one of the best things come winter, but hey, we’re not there yet. The sun on my shoulders instead of flickering fluorescent lights, the air recycled by trees instead of air conditioners and some quiet time to sort through my thoughts instead of the invasive screech of incessantly ringing telephones.

I don’t like to share that time. I’m possessive over it. I resent intrusions.

So when the German girl kept falling into step beside me, I started changing my route, changing the times I walked, but somehow she was always there. Always talking to me. Talking at me. I nodded and smiled and changed my route again.

There was something about her that seemed strange, nothing I could put my finger on, just a gut feel that keeping my distance would be a good thing.

Then I didn’t see her in the park anymore. She had said she was having problems with her living arrangements. “Her neighbours were always complaining.” “Did I need a tenant?” “What were my friends like?” “Did I want more dogs?” So I assumed she had moved and was walking her dogs in a different park. Until yesterday, when I looked up from the path I was following and saw her dogs charging down the path towards me.

“Hi Clare. You won’t believe what happened.”

“Oh hi. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“They have been holding me captive at Groote Schuur. I’m going to sue the State. The SPCA took my dogs away. I thought they were going to put them down. I was going crazy in there.”

And I’m thinking “Maybe that’s why they put you in there in the first place” but I say “Really?”

“I’ve been trying to talk to the media. But no-one will take my calls because of last time.”

“Last time?”

“Yeah, last time the neighbours starting sending me death threats I called the papers straight away.”

And I’m starting to think maybe she’s schizophrenic and she says “Why don’t I come around to your place and I’ll tell you the whole story.”

And I’m thinking I should trust my instincts more, so I smile and say “Sorry, I have plans.”