>Wow… what an interesting day.

I spent all day thinking about what happened yesterday:

I hung out all day, was aching for Need For Speed: Underground. I wasn’t about to pay $50 for it, however. I still had a few of my worst (all that was left) XBox games. I decided I’d go to Funco Land. I thought about it for a moment, a tad hesitant because last time I went I saw a past friend: Andy Stevens.

I had a falling out with my group of friends in Ware about 2 years ago, shortly after moving out to Springfield. They claimed I was different, they didn’t enjoy hanging out with me… except Andy — he hated me and wanted me dead. No reason, no talking, just threaten me if he ever saw me.

I didn’t give it all much clout. He’s not a small man. He’s no boxer but let’s just say hitting him in the gut probably isn’t going to hit anything vital… or count towards an eventual knock down, even. I’m not a fightin’ man as it is, but there’s a time and place for everything — not knowing what causes someone to want to fight me, and their refusal to speak of it to anyone is hardly a reason for such a drastic act.

About 2 months ago I had gone into Funco land. Wow — Andy works there. He saw me as I walked in, I said “Hi Andy” thinking it wouldn’t be an issue. He just glared and left — went outside in a tizzy. I was just amused so I proceeded to look around, a bit more hurried then usual — he made this a “situation”. I left about a minute or two later and was going next door to Petco. He was walking away from me, towards that direction. He turned and glared.

“I’m not following you — don’t worry, just going to Petco”

“You’re a fucking dead man. A fucking dead man.”

I shook my head and walked into Petco. He was gone when I went back outside.

I didn’t think much of it.

I saw a mutual friend at a club about a week after the episode and told him the story.

His response was “Damn — he’s still hung up on that? That’s a long time to hold a grudge.”

I agreed, but I had seen it happen before. Back when we were still friends he had done the exact same thing to one of the gang. The kid really didn’t even do anything, just didn’t call him, or hung out with someone that Andy hated. He then didn’t just not want to have anything to do with him — he wanted to kill him. If he saw him he’d be a dead man, that’s what he told us. I thought it a tad extreme at the time, even more so since experiencing it first hand.

So finally — the good stuff: Saturday Evening.

I brought in my games to trade in. I didn’t figure he’d be working on a Saturday so I went there. I wasn’t going because I thought he’d be working, didn’t say “ooooh, I think it’ll be fun to see Andy and get him all worked up”. I didn’t even think it a possibility.

I get there and sure enough. He darts to the back room. My heart is pumping – he’s made it a “situation” again. I proceed, he’s not going to stop me from buying my game – he’ll just have to grow up and deal. The manager goes back and I think told him he’d have to come out. He did… stormed right behind me (I remained looking at the games intently as the girl at the register looked up how much I’d get for each of the used games) and out the door. I was a tad relieved, but found it to be quite humorous. I stopped short of saying:

“Sorry for being an issue by being a customer.” to the Manager, they were smirking as well and I figured they were on my side thinking he was being ridiculous.

I purchased my game (9 games equals $54.00 — daaaamn, but they were old/crappy) and proceeded to leave. He was standing out in the parking lot trying to look menacing. As I walked towards my car he b-lined towards me.

“You think you’re funny?!!!”

“I’m a customer” – holding up my game and receipt.

“I don’t fucking care – get the fuck out of here” and he shoved me.

This was the point where I thought: “Do I fight this guy?” and worked out some scenarios in my head. If I got in a fight, he’d certainly get fired… if he didn’t for the little stunt he was pulling right here. If he got fired he’d really have a reason to hate me — but at least I’d know what it was this time. I knew I could only get in head shots… and I had a whole evening ahead of me, I was headed to a friends. I didn’t want a fight, I didn’t want police… and didn’t know how far he’d go.

I couldn’t walk to my car because he was in the way. He wouldn’t get out of my way because he wanted me to leave. I didn’t move so he shoved me again. This time he went a little to the side so I went to walk forward, and he shoved me again. That was it, I was going to speak to the manager. I turned towards the door, all the while he’s yelling “Get the FUCK out of here — FUCKING leave!!!!” yadda yadda yadda. I point to the manager. He’s stone faced, staring… and doesn’t care. I’m thinking he told the guy I murder children or something. I attempted to open the door, Andy had run forward seeing that I was going back inside… realizing where it was going he put his foot in front so I couldn’t open the door. I turned back around as it was obvious the people inside weren’t going to do shit. I mean… I wouldn’t either if my friend had an “arch enemy” come into his place of work “just to piss him off, like a big joke” which is the feeling I got from the way he said “you think you’re funny?”

I kept walking, all the while he’s in my face. When I couldn’t walk forward I stopped.

“You need to get 5 feet back”

“I don’t gotta do shit”

“Yeah you do”

He tried knocking the game out of my hand – a no go.

He didn’t seem to know what to do there. We were close enough to my car. I took a long time getting my keys out, pressing the alarm button, and inching into the car.

I sat there for a second, all I could say was “Interesting.” I gave him a puzzled look, drove really slow — went back towards the front of the store. I couldn’t see the people inside, wish I could have gotten another feeling for what the manager was going to do, or thought about this.

I drove away wishing I had just upped and popped him one.

Now I’m wondering what to do about it.

I could easily get him fired, I think.

I don’t want to do that… like I said, an enemy for life. However — it already seems that’s what I am, without a reason. It might feel good to have a reason for someone to hate me, at least. I am going to call the store manager tomorrow, explain the situation, and my past with the guy. I’m not sure why he hates me, will make that clear… but it’s understood that if you work somewhere, part of “professionalism” is that you are there to provide a service to anyone who comes in the door, personal feelings aside. I didn’t murder his children, I didn’t rape his girlfriend, I didn’t rob him. There’s nothing I did that could make him hate me as he does (or says he does), let alone escalate the issue into fisticuffs upon seeing me.

I just don’t want that to happen again. If it means letting the guy go… so be it, I’d rather he just stop being a baby and be able to stand across the counter from me, even just walk away if I go in there. I understand you have such a deep hatred for me… and you can’t even look at me without becoming the Hulk — not my problem. I wanted to buy a game. I think he’s Assistant Manger too. Fuckin deal with it.

So I’ll update after speaking to the manager tomorrow. If he doesn’t believe me, I’ll take it to the district manager… then I’m sure that he’ll get fired. I have a receipt – time and date of the incident, and invite him to be there the next time I visit if he’s so sure that Andy isn’t capable of such a thing. I’d enjoy just watching him squirm knowing he can’t do anything.

…so now that I have everything down maybe I’ll be able to sleep.

Let’s see, shall we?

=]