Close Encounter

I am ten years old and shopping at Pickering Town Centre. I'm leaving Sears to enter the mall and I see a familiar looking old guy. I'm not sure what his name is but I feel like I definitely know him. I sigh and my stomach drops because I hate saying hello to family friends. I hate air kissing people I barely know, and I have to be polite because they are my parents' friends.

I try to avoid eye contact. It works a little too well and I'm suspicious. What's this guy's problem? I go from suspicious to highly offended when the old guy walks right by me.

What the hell? I fume. I turn around to get a good look at him, try to figure out who he is. I mentally rehearse my speech to my parents about their rude friend. After my flash of rage I have a moment of clarity; I realize who he is and how I know him. Old guy's not a family friend at all. I recognize him because he is Mark Dailey, City TV news anchor.