What it Feels Like to Know You Are About to Die Tuesday, January 22, 2008
After what happened to me today, I now know what it feels like to know you are going to die and when.
At around 11am this morning I took a package down to the local post office. It's always at least a 20 minute wait so I made myself comfortable in line. When you walk into our post office you walk through a vestibule, turn right and from there you have to walk to the back of the post office which is about (I am terrible with dertimining feet) 40 feet. (quite a ways) So I was there and there got to be one person in front of me. I notice a black man standing about 5 feet from me when a white man comes up to the black man and begins to speak to him loudly so most people can hear. “Hey, brother” the white man says. ”Hey,” the black man answers. At first I assume they know each other because they shake hands. I even begin to think mean thoughts about the white man calling the black man “brother” like he’s trying to make himself seem part of some secret black bond that only the black man and the white man have. However, I shrug it off and continue to wait in line. Then the white man, with a red bandana around his head, begins to speak to the black man again. “Hey, brother.. I just want you to know… if YOU need anything I got your back, and I mean that too.” “Ok, thanks. ” The black man was definitely from Africa with the strong British accent he spoke with. “No, man I mean it,” he continues. “You can’t trust ANY white people. The only people you can trust aren’t white.” He stressed. Then he pointed to the man in front of me who was Asian and smiled at him. At this point I look around and notice the Asian and the black guy are the only non-Caucasion people in the building. After smiling at the Asian man he glanced down the line of about 25 people never making eye contact with any of us. I instantly felt a chill down my spine. Then he continued, “Hey man you can have my email or phone number.” He said to the black man who now looked a bit puzzled and it became apparent he didn’t know the man. Then the white man said, “Anyone hurts you or touches you—I want to know. “ Short pause. “I’ll kill them. I mean it. I will kill them.” I turned around and looked at the lady standing behind me. I could see the fear in her eyes. She looked up at me and said, “I feel like we should leave.” I agreed with her and said to her, "It's better to be safe, then sorry." Then I saw that I was next in line. I told her I was going to tell the clerks to call for security. The lady behind made the right move and left the building. At that point he paced a bit and acted like he was going to leave. He would walk about 10 feet and turn around and come back. Then walk 10 feet and come back. On his last time he repeated himself about having the black man’s back and walked out of the post office. With in about 20 seconds he came back in. This time he acted agitated. He walked straight up the black man and handed him some money saying, “Here brother, I am so sorry. Take this. Have dinner on me. It’s my last bit of money but I want you to have it.” At that point it became apparent to everyone in the room (except the clerks… I honestly don’t know why they were oblivious to all this) that this was slowly getting out of hand. Everyone in the room felt fear. I could feel my heart sink further and further into my chest. I actually felt my knees getting weak. I was officially scared. Then he shouted, “I will kill any white person that touches this man.” He said pointing at the black man. “I mean it! I will kill them all!” Then he started walking to the back while everyone’s eyes followed him in complete shock and fear. At that point we all thought that this is where the gun would be pulled out. “I just got back from Iraq and I aint scared to kill someone! I don’t wanna go back to prison for murder, but if anyone touches that black man I will kill them!” As he walked out the door I was called up to the clerks. “Aren’t you going to call security?” I asked her. She honestly looked at me and said, “For what?” “The man is threatening to kill people if they touch the black man!” I tell her in disbelief that she missed the whole thing. “Oh, what did he say?” As I recounted what happened too much time has passed I knew. She went and got the phone, but NEVER called security. She put everyone’s life in danger by not just calling security and not worrying about it. Being that it’s a federal building, it couldn’t have been that hard to do it. After she mailed my package I walked to the front of the store where the door was. About 3 people stood there and wouldn’t leave the building because they didn’t know where the man was. I stood there and searched for him but couldn’t find him. I ran to my car and drove away. Looking back so many things went wrong. First of all, I should have taken my own advice and left the building when the other lady did. If that man would have went off and started shooting people she would have been the only one to live. Simply put, I would be dead. These kinds of things happen, and I guess you just aren’t ever prepared. You hope you’ll do the right thing, but you just never know. I am normally very calm and collected in stressful situations. However, when it comes to looking death in the eyes I was toast. Another thing is NO ONE did anything. No one called the police. No one called security. Today with all the cell phones, we could have had police there in minutes. Everyone expected everyone else to do something. Instead, no one did anything! Myself included. I had a cell phone in my pocket, but all I could think was why aren’t the clerks doing anything? This could have got messy really quick. The man was obviously nuts. Everyone was literally scared stiff. No one moved. I will definitely use this as a learning experience. I will hopefully remove myself from the situation and call for help. Seeing these killing sprees people are doing in schools makes me understand it could happen anywhere. This could have been me. At one point I certainly felt, “Oh my God we are all going to get shot.” And I think everyone in that post office line felt exactly the same way. Luckily I am here today to write about it. I am planning on calling the post office and discuss with them the events that happened. Maybe they need to review safety protocol. I don’t know. I am just glad to be alive. Her
Leave a Note
how scary. he was probably suffering from Post traumatic stress from the war. people go through all sorts of stuff in this life and it can make them dangerous, but I'm really glad you made it through with your life and next time you'll know how to act on the spot when you need to. Think about it, now that you know to act calmly and cooly in those situations, but that sometimes you need to act... [Daisy Rose Lily] 1/22/2008 6:12:57 PM
...and bravely, you could be the hero of the next situation your in like that...not that I hope you're ever in a situation like that again, I hope not. [Daisy Rose Lily] 1/22/2008 6:14:58 PM
i would still call the police. they have cameras in the post office. he could be out there terrorizing someone else. he could be doped up and on a rampage. [muted exposure] 1/22/2008 6:16:17 PM
That's really frightening. I'm shocked that the clerk didn't call for security. I'm glad that you made it out okay and that no guns were involved or anything. [Befuddled] 1/22/2008 6:29:49 PM
Wow. I'm glad you're ok! That sounds scary as hell.
[OddJohn]
1/22/2008 6:40:11 PM
That would scare me senseless too, and I really have no idea how I would react. Probably the same way you did, I bet. We just never know how we're going to deal with things like that when confronted with it.
I'm glad you're OK! [Mommy2Katie]
1/22/2008 7:57:01 PM
I feel for you, I was in a similar situation once. I walked into an autoparts store and there was a short angry white man at the counter just cussing up a storm at this pregnant woman. He repeatedly called her a bitch and a whore, and began to throw the item he apparently came to return. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life, and I have a black belt. [Serenity17] 1/24/2008 8:21:18 PM
Hi. This is Crystal from Losing.Weight. Since you had to leave the group, I was wanting to stay connected through my personal OD page. Add me if you want please. :) Thanks. [Losing.It] [p] 2/10/2008 8:58:46 AM
That was really scary. I'm glad you and one no one else got hurt. [lostonthesea]
Loading comments...