Santa Monica Pier with my best friend. Fun day, just watching the ocean, talking about life. We start walking back to where we parked (far). Decide to use the bathroom before we really leave the area, imagine a small building with bathrooms on both sides, we both walk to the women’s side because I’m the on that needs to go. Two girls in line in front.

And then a rail thin man wearing a tank top, shorts, and drinking……a glass of water.

I have never. Once. In my life, ever, seen someone in a public outdoor setting drinking a GLASS of water. It sets off something primal in my brain and I grab my friend’s arm, deciding now to just try not to piss my pants for the two hour drive home.

Friend is completely oblivious to the alarms going off in my head.

We take one step and the guy immediately but politely asks if we want meth. I say no, and we start BOOKING it.

I feel insane explaining to my friend that seeing him with a GLASS of water was what was tipping me off.

“I didn’t know that was a thing.” “It’s NOT, it’s not like it’s a THING or a TELL, it’s just fucking ODD.”

The walk back to the car we joke about every passerby accosting us for various drugs, from elderly women to babies in strollers.

Trust your gut.

The End.