STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I went to TJ Maxx yesterday and purchased a couple of large items. I got out to the parking lot, stuffed most everything in the trunk of my car with the exception of a tall shelf thingy which I was going to place in the back seat. Long story short, I decided to lower the rear window so the legs could poke out the window.  Next to the driver's side, where I was also messing with the shelf, was a huge SUV which pretty much concealed me. 

A little background - this TJ's recently experienced some muggings in the parking lot - it borders a questionable area.  I also knew I was being watched in the store by two different men - it made me nervous and I thought maybe they were waiting to see if I left my purse unattended...

Anyway, back to the car...

While I am preparing to maneuver the shelf out the window and close the door, Out of nowhere this man appears with some bags with wonderbread  in them. He said something undiscernible, and I said "what's up" in a stern voice. He asked me if I wanted help with the shelf.  I said, that I would like to try to get it between the seats maybe, so I tried to lower the driver's seat and he tried to maneuver it in. The seat wouldn't lower enough, and I said, that wouldn't work, and that I would just have it stick out the window. He held the legs while I closed the door.  Good samaritan, right? I thanked him and next thing I know he started moving in close to me and asked me if I could "help him out."

Here I am, between my car and an SUV, keys in ignition, door open, random man moving in on me, and I said "wait! hold on a minute!" and I jumped in my car, slammed the door locked it, looked up and his face was in the window, started it up (and luckily there was no car in front of me in the parking lot) and gunned it the hell out of there.

I was scared shitless.  Funny thing is that I second guessed myself, like if he was just begging, that I felt rude for doing that. But I know I did the right thing - it would have been stupid to get suckered and regret it later. Who knows what would have happened had I gone for my wallet - he may have stolen it - among many other possible scenarios.

Anyway, I was very shaken, and I will never go to that TJ Maxx again. I should probably never accept another man's help again either and that makes me sad.

I am glad I read those tips though, I don't think I would have felt as threatened had I not recently read the parking lot attack scenarios...