so I was at Pep Boys waiting for them to do whatever they were going to do to my truck. I was waiting patiently off to the side and not really paying attention to anyone. Then I heard a very clear "fuck you" and snapped back. Some guy was walking out, saying fuck you, fuck this place, fuck everything. OK, you got my attention buddy. He continues to swear his way out of the store. He stops in the exit door and turns around, still swearing. I'm watching to see if he does anything fun. Its fun to watch people lose their temper.
All the employees were watching him but not saying a word. The only words being said were his swear words. I was still watching him because I really thought I was going to get to see something cool. Then he turned his gaze onto me and asked me what I was looking at. I didn't respond or even acknowledge him. I guess he didn't like that because he started in on me. "You better quit looking at me. Really fucker, you better quit."
Of course that made me laugh. He was some 40 something white dude who looked like he should be huddled over a burning trash can trying to keep warm. He didn't respond well to me laughing at him and I could see his anger rising. I have a weird mutation where I laugh when people get mad. I think its funny when people get pissed off. Well burn barrel guy didn't like my mutation and actually started to come back in the store in my direction.
That made it time to get serious. I had lil rudeguy about 10 feet behind me, the store employees about 20 feet to my right and crazy dude at about 20 feet in front of me. Behind him was the parking lot and no people. He was wearing a loose fitting flannel shirt (so was I, its winter in Michigan) so I had no idea if he was carrying a weapon. My mind was computing all scenarios and my right thumb had just slipped under my shirt in case I had to draw. I didn't want to escalate the situation by exposing or drawing my gun but I wanted to be ready. All that computing took about 1/2 second. Crazy dude took one more step and I was almost to the point where I had to make a decision when one of the employees yelled at the guy. I don't remember exactly what was said but it was something along the lines of asking the guy if he needed anything else. Its possible that since the store guy was on my right side he could see what I was doing but I doubt it.
Crazy dude finally decided to go back out into the cold, still swearing the entire way. Funny thing is he has no idea what all happened in those couple of seconds. Or what could have happened.