Please, please tell me now

This is to all the men out there: creepy, handsome, single, married, poor, rich, dressed nice, ragged, WHATEVER:

This is my firm belief:

YOU DO NOT APPROACH A WOMAN AT NIGHT WHEN SHE IS BY HERSELF.

I have had this happen more than once, and it astounds me that people do this. It should be like an unwritten rule.

Last night, I got out of work at 8 PM. I decided that I was starving and that I wanted nothing more in the world than a burger from Rally's. Was it good? Nah. Was it worth it? Hardly. But at the time, I couldn't see past my need for a burger & fries from Rally's. Fast food, how you've done me wrong.

Anyway...

As I'm waiting in the line (and I kid you not, I swear I was in it for like 15 minutes) I finally place my order. I'm like salivating and ready to pass out at the same time. I'm also playing the game of "I'm going to count to 50 and if this car doesn't move by the time I get to 50 I'm moving. 1, 2, 3...50...let's go to 100..." You know what I mean. Don't act like you haven't played it before when in a line! And then you invariably get locked into the line when someone pulls up behind you.

It's a nice night in downtown Flint...unusually warm for October. I have my windows cracked, but then I see a gentleman in the corner of my eye, just standing on the grass. I have a feeling he's wanting something, so I start to roll my window up. Just then I hear him saying "ma'am, ma'am." I pretended I was on my phone.

I'm not a heartless person. But I'm a woman alone in my car at night. Your left shoe could be on fire, and it's questionable as to whether or not I would help you out. How many bad stories begin with a woman who tried to help a man out and fell victim? I'm jus' sayin...

So men, think about it: don't approach us at night when we are alone. I seriously cannot think of any good scenarios to come from that situation.

And let me also just mention that my advising appointment yesterday afternoon was an international student. And her mom was asking me "how safe is Flint?" a question I often get. After I went out of my way to explain that Flint is safe (except for the bad parts of town which I have never been to and never plan to go to) this happens.

Nice, man. Nice.