Pages

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Foot

Have you ever noticed that ATMs are always built in some areas that get very lonely after certain hours? Always some little corner out of the way, where people can easily get shot, robbed, mugged, killed... you notice these things when you're heading to one such secluded spot at 8:47 at night...

At the ATM:
A woman is inside doing her business.
A man is outside waiting.
I carefully look him up and down: no untoward bulges from his pants waist, no tattoos, piercings or weird shiny objects...
Man says good night.
At first I jump a little. Then sigh, smile and return the pleasantry.
I look around: no lone, suspicious characters nearby.
No police car either.
I wish that woman would hurry!.

The woman exits the machine.
The man enters.
I'm outside alone.
A prick of apprehension.

The man doesn't take long.
Soon, I'm safely bolted into the little cubicle
... or trapped, as the case may be ...

I hear a sound.
I quickly turn round to look outside.
Nothing.
I realise the ATM glass is not transparent from my end.
People outside can see me.
I can't see out.
I wonder which genius built this thing....

There's a little clear-looking strip at the bottom of the machine.
I stoop down to peep out...
I see a foot!!

Just one foot parked menacingly at the at the edge of the glass cubicle.
The rest of the body is hidden from view.
My heart beats double time.
who's out there?
what do they want?
will they hurt me??


I grab the money from the machine.
Quickly grab and tear up my receipt.
Stuff the cash into my bag.
Zip it tightly, push open the door and .... run like the wind!!

At a safe distance
I turn around, panting, breathless...
No one. Absolute emptiness.
Thank goodness I'm not being followed.
The predator must have ran off too...

I sigh. Look down. Eyes get stuck on my shoes.
I chuckle, then giggle, then comes full-blown laughter.

That 'menacing' foot I had been seeing on the other side of the ATM?
My own--- my reflection.

Steups.

15 comments:

Captain Dumbass said...

Bah ha ha ha! Thanks for the laugh.

ruthibel said...

anytime i can :)

Will said...

*GRIN*


(also... i have tattoos and piercings, but you're probably safe around me... ;-) )

ruthibel said...

Funny enough Will, when I wrote that, I paused to think exactly that - 'not all tattooed and pierced up guys are dangerous', but well... heeeey, I was running from my own foot for crying out loud! Of course I would have run from any archetypal movie-cast scary-looking character!

I like to think I'd be safe around you too though :-p

Tara R. said...

That was funny. I tend to scare myself like that sometimes too.

Melissa B. said...

Oh, thank goodness! You had me goin' for a minute there. Lovely twist in this story!

Girl Tornado said...

Very cute story about your own foot giving you a fright... BUT I can understand your concern about the location of some of these ATMs. I must say I agree!

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Hahahahahaha! Not so funny when you're panicking, but better when you're writing about it, I'm sure. Been there.

Unknown said...

Hi Ruthibelle,
Just wanted to drop by and let you know that I gave you the "Kreativ Blogger Award."
It's a neat little tradition that's been making the rounds online for a few years now.
There's more information about it in my post here: http://www.tonyamoore.com/blog/2010/03/21/kreativ-blogger-award/

ruthibel said...

@tonya ... awww thanks a mill.. i'll drop by top pick that up immediately!

@others... it wasnt that funny when it was hapening, but looking back.. ah boy, better safe than sorry, they say.

Anonymous said...

Your hilarious!

Caribbean Colors Belize said...

I have done that to myself too, scared the wits outta me with a reflection in the mirror or my own shadow.

Stephen A. Bess said...

It's always great when we can laugh at ourselves. :) That was a funny story. Thanks.

Abeni said...

lol.ATMs always make me nervous

Just Me said...

Okay, that was hilarious....now! I am sure at that moment it was horrible. I used to work at a place where I had to deposit all the money for the day after closing, at a bank where the ATM was practically behind a huge bush. I know your fear!!!