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I was an only child.  I remember playing in the front yard, examining the grass, looking up at the sky, sitting and thinking. 

One day, when I was about six or seven, a big brown van rolls up in front of the yard and a man in the driver’s seat yells at me through the open window: “Hey! I lost my dog, have you seen a puppy around here?”  

Compulsively I say, “Nope! What’s your dogs name?  I lost my kitty (LIE).  Have you seen him?”  

Creepy Van Guy: “Uh…no. It’s uh…[some dog name].  Will you help me find my puppy?”

Little me: “No, I have to look for my kitty….his name is [madeupname]….He is gray and white and i love him.  *Starts yelling made up name at the top of my lungs*

Creepy van guy:  Ok, uh yeah. Well why don’t you get in the van so we can go find our pets together?

Little Me:  Nope, pretty sure he’s around here somewhere…*continues yelling made up name at the top of my lungs, pacing back and forth the perimeter of the yard, with arms flailing around*

Creepy van guy:  ………… *drives off*

Little me: *continues yelling made up name at the top of my lungs, pacing back and forth the perimeter of the yard, with arms flailing around*

Little me:  *repeat for the next hour*

I used to compulsively lie like a lot of little kids.  I never realized until I recently  heard about another account of “can you help me find my puppy?” that my simple act of weirdness might have afforded me the rest of my life. It was probably the screaming and flailing, but I’m still amazed that I thought to do that, without even realizing that I was probably saving my own life.

It don’t think it occurred to me at the time that this man could have been dangerous.  I just wanted him to go away, because I knew the stranger danger rule, and I wanted to be left alone in my yard to play.  I think I also kind of wanted to one up him, and be impressive.  So I made up a story and a game for myself and went with it.   I never realized exactly how close to death I might have gotten until now.  I had to sit for a moment and be thankful for the serendipity of weirdness.  My parents don’t know about this.  I’m 26 now.