They said, "If you see something, say something".
I saw something.
So I reluctantly dialed 911.
I began the narrative with, "Hello. It may be nothing, but...".
I just happened to be enjoying a late lunch in my favorite seat at the kitchen table, right next to the window.
A black sedan, that had dark tinted windows, parked across the street. The way it just crept up and stopped, seemed odd.
It sat there for 3 or 4 minutes, but no one emerged.
I thought perhaps someone was lost, needed to make a call, or check directions.
Maybe the occupants were talking.
Maybe some kid was in the car, wasn't supposed to be, and asked to be let out away from his or her house.
Suddenly the passenger and driver doors flew open. The trunk popped open, too.
Two tall guys jumped out, and began to hurriedly take off their clothes. It reminded me of some post- bank robbery scene in a movie.
One donned a neon lime green hoodie.
The other stripped to his bare chest, and exchanged his tee shirt and blue dress shirt for a gray pullover. They changed their shoes.
They stopped every time a vehicle passed by.
They threw stuff into the trunk, and in the back seat of the car.
When they were dressed, they closed the doors and the trunk, left the car, and walked to an intersecting street.
I thought they were going to the house on the corner, but they kept walking past the house, the backyard of which they'd parked alongside, and went into a yard about 3 doors down.
I wondered, "If they were going down that street anyway, why not just drive?
Did they not want someone to see them coming?" There were no cars on the street.
They could have had their choice of parking spaces on either side.
Why park on one street, then walk down another?
They walked into a yard and stopped.
They went to the door and opened the screen, then they left, and continued walking down the street. They seemed to be looking for something; loitering even.
They were empty handed.
There were no clipboards, door tags, pamphlets or fliers.
One guy crossed the street, then rejoined the other guy. They continued walking out of sight. They never returned to their car.
I was watching the drama outside, missing The Steve Harvey Show, waiting to see a police vehicle drive by, and thinking all kinds of things.
Were they athletes who decided to park, and walk or run in the neighborhood?
Were they looking for someone?
Waiting to ambush or hurt someone?
Were they stalkers?
Drug dealers?
Thieves?
Oh no!
School kids would be passing by soon.
Was one of them a disgruntled dad?
Was the car stolen?
Was it rigged to explode if someone got too close? Had they robbed a bank?
(Yep. I've been watching way too much TV.)
Two police vehicles drove up.
The officers came to the garage to talk, then left and canvassed the neighborhood.
Several minutes later, one of the officers returned.
I met him in the driveway. He was smiling.
"Ma'am, it's okay. Just wanted to allay any fears. They work for Verizon. They're just making sure customers' service is working".
I laughed. I was half happy that my worries weren't founded, and half perplexed by the Verizon employees' behavior.
Verizon? What? Get outta here!
What was with all of the espionage moves? They've got to know that they can't conduct business like that.
Stripping in the street? lololol...
Where was their nice white Verizon truck?
Where was the Verizon signage?
They probably have no idea how suspicious and shady they looked, which begs the question, what does "suspicious" look like?
Is it possible to be perfectly innocent; carrying out perfectly legitimate business, yet inspire doubt or fear?
Those guys are going to have to change their MO, though, or concerned citizens will be dialing 911 to report them every day.
If they're going to use unmarked vehicles, some signage in the windows, or on the doors would be reassuring. Surely Verizon can afford some flags or magnets or stickers or something--
and employees may want to get dressed at home...lol
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