Last night one of my best friends and I went to dinner at one of the nicer restuarants in town. Of course I had my back up against the wall, all windows, and exists in view, checking people coming and going. Everything was going great until I looked up into the corner and saw a figure in an upstairs window looking down at us. I pushed my friend Chris under the table, picked up the only weapon I could find a steel kabob skewer and was getting into a defensive position. I must protect my friend and the other patrons, THe owner came up and whispered into my ear" stand down, it is safe". He was a Vietnam vet and had been watching me.

As I came back to reality I could feel every ones eyes on me and over heard some young adults making comments about "what a basket case" people like that should be locked up." At that point I just wanted to run out of the place and hide. I helped Chris up off the floor expecting her to be mad or afraid of me, but she understood. The owner had told the young adults that their dinner was over and to please leave.

This was my first time out to diner in 6 months and I acted like a fool. I did find out that the figure in the window was a dummy representing an Italian housewife in a villa. The owner didn't want that done, but his wife insisted.