When I get to pay, my young woman friend mentions to Julie that she will pay for my miscellaneous items and to just charge me the gas. I’m a little surprised, but I guess she feels like she is the local host to an out-of-towner. I reply "thanks, but no need to". Julie, on the other hand, has been looking at her suspiciously and is having none of that. She charges me the full amount, which is what I want.

As I prepare to leave, I thank Julie for all her help and she wishes me a safe trip. Sensing that talk of directions is now over, the young woman asks me about my bike. Saying that she wants to take a better look at it, she walks out with me. As we cross the lot, I see the truck driver head out and I wave to him. I'll catch up soon, I say to myself.

Gearing back up, I answer some questions from the assembled teenagers while the young woman looks on. ie What is that? A steering damper. What does it do? Etc etc.

I'm just about ready and thank her for her help and involvement. I ask her name and she replies Rae-Lynn. She cautions me to ride slowly and has a worried sound to her voice. I reply that while I certainly can't promise that I'll ride slowly, I CAN promise that I won't be riding fast; not in this weather and visibility. She laughs.

She has a troubling, intent look in her eyes, a certain "je ne sais quoi". I have a spontaneous urge to ask her: "Rae-Lynne, what is it that you want right now?" But just as quickly, I realise that I don't have time to ask the question, much less to deal with the answer and, more importantly, I'm not single. So I just look at her, note the expression, and I don't ask.

As I get on the bike she extends her hand as she cautions me to be safe and mentions that she'll say a prayer for me tonight! I put in my earplugs and don my helmet. I flip on the ignition. She is still talking, but as my earplugs expand, her voice trails off. I look at her as she mouths words that I cannot hear, and smile and nod. Time is fleeting. As much as I've appreciated her involvement, I need to get moving – now.

As I ride out of the parking lot, she walks over to her car and waves. Unbelievable! I'm thinking, what the heck is it with this place? Twenty minutes ago, I hadn't ever even seen any of these people. And now, here they were, doting on me like I was going off to war or something. I mean, it's only rain for gosh sakes. . .

Bruno
Montreal, Canada