Welcome to another week at my blog. The Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop is winding down. This week’s topic wasn’t easy for me. What else is new, right? Haha, I’ve said this before.
It didn’t come easy because I couldn’t choose which day I wanted to post about. I had drafted three unforgettable day posts. The one I’m posting today isn’t one of the three. Wednesday night this one came to me, but I don’t know what triggered the memory. Why wouldn’t it come to me that night? This lady remained awake until at least 4:00 a.m. I think half the memories throughout my whole life came to me.. Read on…
First, some good news (for me). I published one book this week. A coloring book. Now, there is one down and one to go. Finding Kimber is on track for release before Black Friday.
Week 45: An Unforgettable Day In My Life
I looked fifteen, but imagine me at seventeen–short, thin, blonde (with big blue eyes, or so I’ve been told), and stuck at a mall all alone after dark. You see, my so-called “friend” didn’t come to pick me up after my driver education class. Yeah, I took the class in a conference room at the mall. Westland Mall. Cell phones were a thing of the future.
The class ran late and I missed the bus home. The only buses left were going in a different direction and city. I wandered around in the mall foyer where the phones sat. Eventually, the mall cleared. I no longer felt safe there. I made calls trying to wrangle a ride home with no luck. I ventured back outside and waited with hopes the jerk friend would arrive.
A group of older guys waited for one of the other buses, but they spotted me alone. When I say group, I mean about seven or eight guys, maybe more. I was young but not stupid. They laughed, teasing each other, and they kept peering in my direction. Even the bus driver!
Red Flag.
In my desperation, I went back inside to call home. This wasn’t one of my best choices because my dad wouldn’t get out of bed to come get me. Once he arrived home from work, he didn’t leave. I begged my mom to ask him. His answer? NO. No surprise.
A few of the guys from outside had followed me inside while I made the phone call. They followed me back outside. I paced while waiting. By then, needless to say, fear overtook me. What could I do? Home was about seven miles away. I had walked it before. Would I have to again? I kept glancing at the woods across the road.
Traffic in the parking lot dwindled. If only the buses would load up and leave. The guys moved closer to where I waited. Oh, crap! They tried to talk to me. I walked away from them.
As these guys got closer to me, laughing, making jabs at each other, and at me, a young guy and girl came up to me, saying loudly, “Oh, there you are. We’ve been looking all over for you. Come on.” The girl gently held my arm.
I took stock of the situation. The group of guys or two strangers? Guess which choice I made? What choice would you have made?
The guy turned to give the group a warning glare. The three of us walked away. They told me they didn’t like the looks of what went on, and wanted to get me out of there. They offered me a ride home, and something told me it was okay. (Intuition.)
Would I have taken a ride from strangers on a normal night? Hell no, though I had hitchhiked before but never alone. Never at night. After getting in the car with them, fear and a whole new scenario played out in my mind, but they drove me straight home. I directed, but it was like they knew where to go.
They pulled up in front of my house, smiled, and said, “Here you are.” How could I thank these two gentle strangers? Well, I did graciously thank them for saving me. I shudder to think of what could’ve happened that night. To this day, I believe they were my Guardian Angels. The friend? Hah, yeah, what friend? Jerk.
I don’t condone hitchhiking. Times have changed since then. I also don’t recommend taking rides with strangers. For me, it turned out to be the right decision. Again, times have changed. Another thing? It pays to listen to our intuition. I believe it’s a gift.
Hop on over to the Linky list with me to see what the other authors have to say.
I’ll make my way to participating author posts throughout the weekend.
I hope you have a fantastic day!
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
21 thoughts on “#AmWriting The Night the Bus Left Without Me #MFRWauthor”
RobinMichaela
Wow – definitely unforgettable! I’m so glad it turned out well for you, but how scary, meanwhile…
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks for reading, Robin. Enjoy your week.
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Helen Henderson
powerful post. Being alone is scary enough, especially at night. No woods but I had walked the miles down city streets. Couldn’t do that these days. How times have changed. But I still try to pay kindnesses forward when I can. Thanks for sharing.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Helen. I’ve had my share of walking down streets alone at odd hours, and when I think back, WoW, it was crazy dangerous. I wouldn’t do it now. I try to help out when I can, too, even if it’s only making a phone. Thanks for reading.
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Meka James
OMG! How scary! And Yes things could have turned out so many bad ways. Sorry your friend never showed up and sad your dad wouldn’t come get you. Thank goodness for those two strangers. These days people don’t pay attention to things like that, they are too caught up in themselves. A scary night for sure.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
So true, Meka. These days are different. They tell us to pay attention to our surroundings. But do we? I sure try to. If the guy had been alone, it would’ve been a different story, too. I don’t have to think about that now though.
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Shari Elder Stories (@ShariElderBooks)
Wow, that’s really scary. I’m so glad some good Samaritans found you. Thanks goodness for cell phones.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Shari. I’ll always remember the couple who came to my rescue. I’m thankful for my cell phone today. Thanks for reading.
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Cathy Brockman
That is so scary! I am glad you got home safe!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
It sure was scary, Cathy. I know it took some time to calm down after I got home.
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D. Wallace Peach
OMG. I was totally riveted, Mary, and broke out in an anxious sweat. How scary, and what a wonderful couple to reach out and protect a stranger. Phew. I imagine they knew what they were doing and their kindness was its own reward. ❤
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
If you felt it, you can imagine how I felt at seventeen. Shudders. To this day, I’m thankful to that couple. Thank you for visiting, Diana.
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RaineBalkera
What an interesting story, and a great plot devise for a romance novel, too! Thanks for sharing.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Raine. You’re right. It could be! ❤
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Sherry Lewis
I can’t believe your “friend” left you there, but more than that, I can’t believe your dad refused to come and get you! Thank goodness for those two kind strangers. I shudder to think what might have happened to you without them.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Sherry, I wasn’t surprised at my dad not coming out to get me, unfortunately, but the friend thing shocked me and made me angry. Don’t worry, I gave an earful before saying “good-bye.” I gave my dad a piece of my mind too. On the way home, I remember the couple talking about their engagement, and she showed me her engagement ring. I think they were trying to put me at ease. I wasn’t until I got out of the car. Thanks for reading.
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Teagan R. Geneviene
Mary, this is a powerful post. I’m a firm believer in intuition. I think people reject it because they can’t quantify it — when your intuition saves you, you don’t have any proof. Guardian angels indeed. ❤ That had to be a terrifying experience. I know you felt it all over again in writing this, because I felt it too. Well told.
Hugs on the wing.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I did feel it all over again, Teagan. I guess this is why I used it as an unforgettable day. (night) I almost posted about a home invasion that happened when I was fifteen. I wrote the draft but couldn’t post it.
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Teagan R. Geneviene
I remember you mentioning that in an email. Life is a scary thing…
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mihrank
great post!!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thank you, Mihran. 🙂
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