clavus

The morning was so beautiful it was almost painful to experience. Sunny enough to warm your skin, and breezy enough to keep you cool. Birds sang. The night’s rain left the air clear and clean. It smelled good.

I parked at the far end of the parking lot, just so I could enjoy the walk to and from the store. And as I returned to my car, basking in the impossibly perfect morning, I realized that I was about to get mugged.

He was built like a bull, with a neck thicker than my leg. He was all bandannas and tattoos. If you look up “vato” in the dictionary, you see a picture of this guy. In one huge hand he carried a cane. He didn’t use the cane to walk. He carried it like a club as he strode right at me.

Time slowed to a crawl. My adrenal gland came to life. My eyes dialated and I took in every detail of every object. I was very aware that there was nobody else anywhere near us. My armpits got sticky. My mouth dried up. My world had suddenly changed.

“I got a question for you,” he shouted as he closed in.
“Can I ask you something?” he challenged.

Now you may think I’m paranoid or racist or whatever. But I can read body language. This guy was not walking over to ask a question. He saw a little guy all alone and was walking over to kick the little guy’s ass. Maybe he wanted my wallet. Maybe he wanted my car. I don’t know. But he sure as shit wasn’t planning on engaging in a lively question and answer session.

I stopped, centered myself, and dropped my hand to rest on my pocket. I looked him in the eye and said, “You can ask.”

He stole a glance at my hand, and all at once his attitude changed. His whole body suddenly deflated just a bit. The cane lowered. A smile formed.

My hand sat lightly on the handle of my knife. It was folded and still clipped to my pocket. The knife is a medium size folder, with tanto blade. It is wicked sharp and plenty strong. I’ve seen its mate punch through a car door. The man facing me could undoubtedly beat me to death, but he’d bleed too.

“Um…ya…can I…ah…borrow a dollar?” he asked.

“You got the wrong guy,” I replied.

He turned and walked away.

A bear can kill a porcupine, but it chooses not to.

__________________
Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

Coppertop

Awesome. I bet you won't leave the house without that thing again.

maleficent

Jeesh, clavus... you got guts man... and I am very glad those guts weren't spattered all over the parking lot...

__________________

eribrav

Well done!

ShaniFaye

will he be your next coaster image?

glad you're ok!!!

__________________
I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

jujueye

I love knives. I have a police friend who says it's far easier to diffuse somebody with a gun than a knife. "I hate those big pig stickers," says he.

Bravo, clavus. Such wonderful prose. We're glad you and your wallet are still intact.

Fate

Grats, that's probably the best thing you could have done, make him feel threatened and insinuate control.

On a side question, how big can a blade be before it is considered illegal? I hear it's the length of your palm?

__________________
vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

radioguy

you have got to have the largest set of brass balls! i would have squealed like a pig, i'm a wuss.

be careful dude.

mushroommike

well here in new york city, I believe the blade can only be 3 or 4(?) inches long to be considered street legal. And well done clavus!

JStrider

woulda scared me shitless... ive got a pocket knife on me almost all the time... never felt like i needed to pull it out or even put my hand near it to get it out quick...

good writing as usual...

im glad your still intact and didnt have to defend yourself...

i wonder what the story would be from his point of view...

__________________
-=JStrider=-

~Clatto Verata Nicto

sadistikdreams

Handled it well.

I've done something similar. I don't carry any weapons, but I'm good at acting. A few folks have come up to me, and I just put on my poker face, reach into the inner pocket of my blazer, and put my hand in my armpit. Usually, the folks just waltz off. If whoever doesn't walk off, my cell phone is a few inches away.

__________________
"Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.
The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials."
-Lin Yutang

hearts, by d.a.

TexanAvenger

I had the same kind of thing happen to me a few months ago while I was walking down a side-street. Guy walked up and, quite plainly and almost as if he were bored, asked me for my wallet and threatened to kick my ass. I always carry a knife on me as a tool, but it was out of my pocket and open against my thigh, just so he could see it, before I even thought twice about the movement. He didn't seem nearly as bored as he backed away.

A gun might have more punch to it, but there's something about a gleaming blade in close quarters that's nothing short of a non-verbal, though incredibly persuasive, statement of, "Try it and your walking home at least a testicle short."

SaltPork

he probably didn't want your money because you peed on it.

__________________
It was like that when I got here....I swear.

sob

I carry one too. The hand in the pocket usually registers on people--I haven't had to use it yet.

In answer to an earlier question, many states say that in order to be legal, a knife must be less than 6", open.

absorbentishe

Maybe he smelled the crap in your pants! Way to go, I'd of run thinking he couldn't catch me. Still scared the shit out of you I'm sure.

Rdr4evr

So a insanely huge tatted up "vato" comes up to supposedly mug a "little guy" and he backed out just because you slightly placed your hand on the handle of your folded up knife which was still clipped to your pocket? I would think he could very quickly knock you out without even giving you a chance to pull out your knife or at the very least remove the knife from your possession without much struggle....not such a tough mugger if you ask me...the way you described him led me to believe otherwise. Maybe he is just one of those guys who look tough but are weak inside.

hulk

Was there ever any doubt about that? =P

__________________
"'There's a tendency among the press to attribute the creation of a game to a single person,' says Warren Spector, creator of Thief and Deus Ex."
-- From an IGN game review.

pinoychink790

yeah, but sometimes looks can be deceiving.

Fly

atta boy clavus........fuck them before they fuck you...........


don't let anyone mess with you or your stuff.........fuck the bullies.

you play thier game and you can win big time..........stupid fuckin' thieves!!!!


....and i'm glad you didn't hafta use the blade too.

__________________
BASTARD

SterlingStudios

yellowchef

yeah Im glad this wasnt Clavus Goes to Jail.

Id have just cried or surrendered or something. Im a pansy

pinoychink790

yeah, that would have been pretty interesting

Rdr4evr

LoL, seriously, I don't know why I even threw that in considering its a given....

whocarz

I had a similar situation happen to me about four years ago. I was walking home late one night, quite drunk I might add, when two cars pulled up to the convenice store across the street. A bunch of guys got out, and started yelling at me. I kept walking, but I pulled out the bowie knife I was carrying with me. The six of them proceeded to cross the street and once they got close, I let them know I was armed. I also began screaming profanities at them. That pretty much threw them off, and they quickly retreated back to their cars. People have a very primal fear of blades, and it's a good thing I had one that night, or I probably would have wound up in the hospital.

__________________
If there exists anything mightier than destiny, then it is the courage to face destiny unflinchingly. -Geibel

Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else. -Marcus Aurelius

Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever? -GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly

flstf

I don't know. I can't help thinking about that Indiana Jones movie where the guy starts flashing the swords and Indiana just pulls out his revolver and blows him away, LOL.

All jokes aside, good for you.

whocarz

Hehe, of course, if you have a gun, someone with a blade isn't that much of a threat.

__________________
If there exists anything mightier than destiny, then it is the courage to face destiny unflinchingly. -Geibel

Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else. -Marcus Aurelius

Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever? -GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly

Nancy

Clavus,

I'm impressed by your calmness during all this and glad you made it out alive!

__________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy.
I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

SecretMethod70

What a shock, the potential criminal rethought his actions when he became aware that you had, or may have had a weapon. Wonder why this concept is so hard for many to understand.

Awesome story. Glad you're OK.

__________________
Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

K-Wise

I have a nice 6inch lockblade that can flick out in an instant. I don't always carry it with me though. I don't really live in an area where I'd have to. Only times I carry it are when I gotta walk the dog around the neighborhood late at night or something similar to that. Don't exactly have to do that these days.

I'm glad you didn't get hurt Clavus. The guy had a cane which is formiddable against a knife if the guy knew how to use it. He must have been a coward. Good thing a Cane was all he had. Props for not getting robbed. But if it ever comes to a knife to gun fight or similar...surrender your pride and your goods and leave with your life buddy.

Asta!!

__________________
"I love music and it's my parents fault (closing statement)." - Me..quoting myself...from when I said that...On TFP..thats here...Tilted Forum Project

It ain't goodbye, it's see ya later! I'll miss you guys! - Asta!!

TheBrit

I had a similar experience about four years back.
I was on my own outside a tube (metro) station and 3 guys about my age came out from behind a corner and asked me for my phone, travel card (tube pass thingy) and wallet. I just told them "I'm in a bad mood, and if you touch me I'll beat the shit out of whoever I can get a hold of, it's just not worth the bother." They just smiled at me, walked off back round the corner and I never saw them again.
I called the police on them, they were there in about a minute and took the kids down to the station for a chat with their parents (they were minors, as was I at the time). They took my story and contact details, but as far as I know nothing ever came of it.

Cadwiz

I whole-hearted believe this is the reason nothing further happened. Most criminals are looking for an easy mark that will just roll-over and they will be on their way. Or, maybe he realized by the time he swung his "cane" at you a second time, he would be bleeding from several internal injuries. Good work.

__________________
Semper Fi

Ripsaw

Could you have run? Was there time between you noticing the cane wielding gentleman and you getting to your car?

This was a learning experience for both parties involved. The next little guy may not be so lucky.

__________________
"We are supposed to be masters of space, but we cant even line up our shoes?"

One life, one chance, one opportunity.

raeanna74

I saw you posted this thread clavus and just had to read it. I don't even know what it is about how you write that is so engaging but I enjoy it every time. Glad you came out on top of that situation.

Hubby actually "attacked" a theif. He had to do it the day after I came home from the hospital from having our kid. He'd gone to get groceries and on his way out to the car he saw a guy leaning INTO our car ripping out the stereo. The alarm on the stereo was blaring as well so the guy couldn't hear anything. Hubby waved at a guy nearby with a cellphone to call the cops then "snuck" up on the kid. Not that he had to sneak with the alarm going. He yanked the guy out of the car slamming him against the nearby vehicle and clunking the thiefs head in the process. Hubby isn't a skinnyass shorty either so when the guy saw hubby he just saw there dazed until the cops came. Come to find out there were warrants out for the guy. HUbby told us this story when he got back home and my Mom who was staying with us at the time to help out and who was already an emotional basketcase bawled her eyes out on hubby's shoulder saying she was so glad he was ok. I just sortof stared in emotionally numb silence. Yikes. What a time that was. I like the town we're in now. Hardly anything going down usually. QUIET.

__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

ironman

You made me spit coke on the screen!!!

__________________
If I agreed with you we´d both be wrong

clavus

I could have run, but I was too busy trying not to pee all overmyself. It would have been the most sensible thing to do (running, not peeing). It didn't occur to me at the time.

__________________
Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

kutulu

I guess I'm the only one that didn't assume he was going to mug you.

fhqwhgads

This is the reason that I'm glad that I am able to carry off duty. Good job Clavus, I'm glad to see that you came out unscathed.

lurkette

I saw the title of this thread, and for some reason, thought "hey, that would make a really good, twisted children's book."

__________________
"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

clavus

Sure. And "Lady and the Tramp" would be a good name for a porno.

__________________
Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

Jonsgirl

What? It wouldn't??


Good job, though. That's why I carry my knife, but I (fortunately) haven't had to use it, yet.

__________________
Someday, someone will best me.
But it won't be today, and it won't be you.

FngKestrel

I carry a dull Leatherman, so I might have needed to plier him to death if I were in that situation.