Good in a Crisis
With another subtle glance over my shoulder, I nudged my sister.
“They’re still there?” she whispered, without moving her lips.
I nodded slightly.
Walking back to our hotel from the café, we had just finished watching Les Bleus win yet another game in the world cup. The metro had closed for the night, and like typical twenty-somethings we had carelessly missed the last bus by about 20 minutes.
“What should we do?” she asked under her breath. She had clearly deferred all judgement to me, the Francophile of the trip. Either that, or she thought my two years on her had prepared me for late-night muggings.
“Just keep walking like nothing’s happening. If we get close to the hotel, we’ll turn a corner and try to lose them,” I murmured, my voice firm.
People warned me that Nice was the most dangerous city in France at the time, prone to pickpockets and petty street crimes. In my typical way, I laughed off naysayers with a flip of my hand, claiming “I’m from L.A. Nothing frightens me.”
Now these two men, who had remained a few meters behind us for the last twenty blocks.
The hotel was 4 or 5 kilometers away from the café, a dive by the airport. During the day, this distance wasn’t bad, but well past midnight it seemed like a bit of a trek, and neither of us had enough for what was sure to be a 20€ cab ride.
“What if they do something before that?” She emphasized “do something” as if describing an act too ugly to name.
“Can you believe they won again?” I said at a normal volume, trying both to steer her away from panic and to not be obvious about conspiring how to junk-punch the two men behind us.
Thankfully, she caught on, stating a little too loudly “No, it was so cool. What a great game.”
I reached into my very un-French canvas purse, digging around until I found the cylinder on my key ring. Unlocking the safety latch, I kept my hand in there.
“Should we go to the police?” she asked, her voice returning to a whisper.
“We don’t even know where the police are,” I pointed out. Still in the land of dial-up internet, the days when Steve Jobs became god of the smart phone remained years ahead of us. All I had on me was a dog-eared copy of Let’s Go France, a folded map, and a rudimentary understanding of the language that allowed me to order croissants and café creme to my heart’s content.
I could hear their feet on the pavement, now. They couldn’t be more than a few steps behind us. In my purse, my thumb tightened on the “die, motherfucker” button.
Suddenly, their voices became echo-like, and vanished. I turned my head and exhaled, my heart suddenly pounding.
“They’re gone. They turned down the alley.”
“Oh, thank God!” my sister said, laughing nervously. “I had no idea what to do!”
Locking the lid with my thumb, I tucked the superfluous pepper spray back into my purse. I may have been fearless, but I always traveled prepared.
– – –
40 Comments
chamanasgar
That was a clever move Natalie.
Natalie DeYoung
🙂
Foxy Wine Pocket
Beautifully written. I was nervous for you both. But my favorite part? “…a rudimentary understanding of the language that allowed me to order croissants and café creme to my heart’s content.”
P.S., I carry pepper spray (in my hand) when I walk Ziggy the Dog.
Foxy Wine Pocket recently posted…Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
Natalie DeYoung
Thank you. That’s my favorite part, too. 😉
Ice Scream Mama
Big Whew!!
Ice Scream Mama recently posted…The house where food goes to die
that cynking feeling
Amen to that, Mama.
that cynking feeling recently posted…Hairy lies
Natalie DeYoung
🙂
Natalie DeYoung
I know!
William Dameron
Excellent pacing and tension through this piece Natalie! So Nice is not very nice, huh?
William Dameron recently posted…Life: Some Assembly Required
Natalie DeYoung
Haha, way to pun. And thanks.
Dianne Eidson
Somewhat of a similar situation in NY with a co-worker but a woman who looked like she was itching to take my friends purse – I however turned completely around & really studied her face, features & clothing – they don’t like to be identified – she turned around & left going back where she came from
Natalie DeYoung
Dianne, you’re so street savvy. 😉
Joe
I wish Kellie would have let me get pepper spray when we hiked in Alaska. I’m not fond of bears unless separated by bars.
Joe recently posted…Death Begins
Natalie DeYoung
I just wouldn’t have told her, which is why I’d make a terrible husband.
Lance
Wonderful pacing with a natural feel. I kept waiting for someone to get f’d up….pardon my french
Lance recently posted…Team
Natalie DeYoung
Haha! Thanks.
Cindy - The Reedster Speaks
You were very brave.
Cindy – The Reedster Speaks recently posted…Radioactive.
Natalie DeYoung
That event brought out my inner superhero. I’m brave about things I shouldn’t be brave about, and scared about things that shouldn’t scare me (like spiders, or other people’s approval…).
Linda Roy
Whew – scary. Reminds me of my time in New York; especially when I first got there. I didn’t have pepper spray – I had a “ninja device”. No kidding, that’s what it was called. I could poke an assailant’s eyes out or stab ’em in the temple. That is…if I didn’t faint from the idea of poking their eyes out.
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Natalie DeYoung
A ninja device? That’s so badass.
Tina
Awesome. I love that you refused to be a victim, and you kept your head.
Natalie DeYoung
I think I’d make a great body guard.
Chris Plumb
I caught a sentence fragment! “Now these two men, who had remained a few meters behind us for the last twenty blocks.” FINALLY! You are human. (Even if I knew what you were trying to say). Good. I’m a teacher and I make mistakes all the time in my blog and in the classroom. I once said, “I have this blogger friend who has perfect grammar.” I’ll still say it.
As to the story. Good stuff. Reminds me of a scene from an Ian McEwen story (In Between the Sheets?), where a tourist couple are lost in an Italian city. Only the set-up is better like you did with two women, as the vulnerability is more real. Of course I’m referring to your anecdote like it is a fiction story. That in itself is the compliment–you make real life sound like great fiction.
Chris Plumb recently posted…I’m Not Gay, I Just Like To Write (and Other Stuff): Redefining Masculinity
Natalie DeYoung
I hate to disappoint you Chris, but I put it there on purpose for artistic purposes. 😉 But yes, I am terribly human. If I miss a mistake while proofreading, my head explodes.
And thanks for the compliment! That’s the most in danger I ever felt traveling abroad, even when I was alone.
Chris plumb
Dang it…I reread the paragraph before, and now it makes complete sense. Oh well, you now what they say about teachers…
Chris plumb recently posted…I’m Not Gay, I Just Like To Write (and Other Stuff): Redefining Masculinity
Michelle Longo
I remember when we were in Nice we were told to not bring our passports (which was our only form of ID) and not much cash since the crime rate is so high, especially among tourists. Glad it turned out OK for you!
Michelle Longo recently posted…Spreading Bug.
Natalie DeYoung
Yeah, while there I wore my cash on my body in one of those money belt things. That was the only city I did it in.
Stacie
Whew, scary stuff! I was nervous the whole time reading this, great tension here.
Natalie DeYoung
Thanks!
Samantha Brinn Merel
Note to self: Always carry pepper spray. You never know when it might come in handy…
Samantha Brinn Merel recently posted…Early Morning Magic
Natalie DeYoung
EXACTLY. 😉 Just not through the airport security…
Christine Organ
Wowza! I would have been freaking like your sister. Scary stuff, glad it all turned out okay. Good thing you were prepared.
Christine Organ recently posted…When We Are Handed a Hammer
Natalie DeYoung
Me too! I felt much safer with that weapon in my purse…
Joe
To have the freedom to enjoy life sometimes mean you must prepare for those who will seek to subvert your fun. Good for you and your sister that no harm was intended by the mysterious ones following.
Natalie DeYoung
Ha, true.
Zoe
I had one bad experience too many and wont leave home without a canister of mace on my keyring… I turned the gun in though… nicely written Natalie!
Natalie DeYoung
Thanks, Zoe! Fortunately, that’s as close as I’ve ever come to needing to use it…
Karen
I really enjoyed this, Natalie. It’s very well written,and you captured the tension of that situation perfectly.
Karen recently posted…The Magic of the Mundane
Deb @ Urban Moo Cow
I was just like you — traveling, throwing caution to the wind, putting myself in compromising situations because I was “from New York.”
I have to say, though, that once while visiting my sister in Florence while she was studying there, a purse-snatcher jumped out and grabbed my bag (which had my passport and everything in it) and I HELD ON TO IT as he tried to flee, out of instinct I suppose. Don’t F with the Moo Cow. 😉
Deb @ Urban Moo Cow recently posted…The Struggle of Working Mothers Begins With Pregnancy
Ericamos
I would have totally been a spaz in that situation! And look at you go with the pepper spray!! I always tell myself I should purchase one, and then decide it’s too bulky for my keys. I mean, who needs safety when it’s not convenient? 😉
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