If you
find yourself in a street confrontation with an assailant, you must
quickly think on your feet. On one occasion, my friend Tara and I had
to turn around a potentially life-threatening situation involving a
visibly dangerous mentally ill individual.
One chilly February night,
Tara and I were leaving the Beale Street nightclub scene in Memphis.
It was 4 AM, and her car was parked quite a ways away from the strip
of clubs we had been frequenting. We had enjoyed the evening
immensely, listening to several home-grown Delta blues bands that
Beale Street has to offer.
Turning off to a dark
secluded street, strolling happily back to our vehicle, we heard the
Danger Q of footsteps following closely behind us. The footsteps
quickened until they invaded our Comfort Q zone.
We then heard the voice of
a large, skulking man trying to get our attention. He said in a cocky,
taunting voice: “Ladies, I am the killer and I am following you.”
I looked at Tara and the
horror-filled Expression Q on her face prompted me to take control of
the situation.
I turned around quickly,
held out my hand, and said, “Hello, my name is Lisa.” He looked
surprised at my gesture of congeniality, and shook my hand. I asked
him what his name was, and he said again: “They call me the Killer,
because I kill the ladies.”
Quickly I responded,
“Well, Killer, you look like a very strong man. Would you do us a
favor?” He cautiously looked at me and said, “Well, maybe. It
depends what it is.” I said, “We are frightened that someone may
try to hurt us while walking to our car. Would you be a gentleman and
look out for us until we get to our car?” He stammered a bit, then
stood straight up with pride and said, “Why, yes, ladies, I will
make sure no one harms you. I know these streets well, and I’ll make
sure you’ll get to your car safely.”
Tara looked at me with a
panic-stricken expression. I said, “It’s OK, everything will be
fine now…Killer is looking after us and nothing bad is going to
happen.”
I engaged him in
conversation about the wonderful sights and music Memphis had to
offer. As we approached Tara’s car she fumbled nervously in her
large black leather purse for her keys.
Killer sensed her
nervousness, and thought she had a gun in her purse. He politely said
goodnight, and taking this as his Time To Exit Q, he made a hasty
getaway before we (now in control of the situation) could harm him.
Tara sighed with relief and
said, “Why on Earth did you ask him to walk us to the car?” I told
her that it was apparent from the moment he began following us he was
trying to intimidate and frighten us. By turning around and
introducing myself, I let him know we were not frightened. Secondly,
he was going to tail us to our vehicle anyway, and the worst thing you
can do in this situation is to be trapped in or near a car with
someone who could be potentially dangerous.
Thirdly, turning his role
from a perpetrator to our protector, this gave him a
sense of pride and self-worth. Almost every human being on this
planet, even mentally ill people, enjoys the elevated feeling they get
when they are honored and respected for the act of helping another
human being.
Fortunately this episode
worked out, and a potentially horrific outcome was avoided. Thinking
quickly on your feet in a calm and direct manner may save your life
one day. So follow your Q’s of preeminent danger, and take charge of
the situation.