I went to an auction site on an off day to look over an item or two. The site is an old Home Depot with a large parking lot. As I pulled in, I noticed about 3 cars near the entrance, and two cop cars at the far end parked so that the drivers could talk to each other with their windows down.

I entered, did my business, and left about an hour later. There were no cars in the parking lot at all except for my pickup and another small pickup (with camper shell) parked two parking aisles over. As I approached my pickup with keys in hand, I noticed a lean athletic type mulatto (late 20's) emerge from the small pickup with a gas can in his hand. He holldered at me ("Pardon me, Sir!"), and claimed he had run out of gas and was wondering if I could spare a dollar so he could get enough to get him to a station. I did not break my stride, nor even look his way, as I quickly unlocked my car door and hollered "I'm in a hurry right now", as I quickly got inside, locked the door, started the car (thankfully it started right away), and pulled away quickly towards a distal exit.

I don't know what he did after I got inside my car, but, he was probably about 30 feet away as I got in, so, I assume he could have rushed me and, if he had a pistol, he could have pointed it at me before I could have speed away. I was so frightened during those 2 or 3 seconds before I put it in gear and speed off, that I was about to loose some of my inards. Once my car was in motion, I realized I was no longer in danger because I drove away so that he remained on the rear passenger side of my pickup (w/camper) - he couldn't see me and I couldn't see him.

What I think might have happened is that he probably intended to rob me - but, he was startled by the way I didn't pause as he called to me, and, he didn't have time to close in on me and show me whatever weapon he intended to use. He was prepared to continue the thin ruse of "running out of gas" (as he was walking briskly, but not running, towards me) for a few seconds until he got close enough to produce a weapon and get the jump on me. It was my instinct to not stop, nor pause, nor even establish eye contact, that disrupted his plan just momentarily - long enough for me to escape his space of opportunity.

That instinct (to avoid any physical opportunities by proximity) is something I have gotten from reading VNN all these years - it probably saved me from a dangerous mugging (or who knows what else). Before, about 10 yars ago, I would have been irritated at being interrupted (I really was in a hurry), but, my natural whiteness of heart would have prevailed and I would have paused long enough to be caught in his proximity.

That is what I think happened - I dodged a bullet. Since then, I have been paying very close attention to what cars and people are around my vehicle when I emerge from a business - I'll just go back insise if I see anything at all suspicious.

This happened in Denton, Texas. That place is a mad-house to get around in.