Manipulative Matters

You are taking a stroll one night through the backstreets of your neighbourhood. It was a tough day at work and you just needed a walk. Looking at your watch you see that it is 12:30 at night. Then you hear it a sound like a dog crying. Deciding to take action as the animal lover you are you search to help the animal.

It takes about five minute for you to hear the sound again. You look around because it sounded closer this time. Then you see it come into view you were sure you had already looked that direction five times but there it is. You approach it somewhat cautiously seeing as it might have something severely wrong. However, something still draws you to reach out and touch it when you got close enough.

The moment your hand grazed the fur on its back it seemed to transform into something out of this world. Something you would normally not dare to touch. Then just as quickly as it appeared it vanished. You hadn’t even looked away it just poofed. Then your vision got blurry you tried your hardest not to pass out but then you only saw white.

You begin to hear the sound of cars driving by and then you come to. You take in your surroundings and notice that you clearly aren’t in the park anymore. You also realise that your head was pounding. “Fuck did I get mugged and dumped here!?” You shout out to yourself.

Checking your pockets you are relieved to find your keys, wallet, and newly paid out pay check still in tour pocket. Taking in your surrounding you realise that somehow you had made it all the way into the city not two blocks from your work. You look yourself over and check your watch wondering how long you had been out. It was now 1:05pm you couldn’t believe it you were gonna be late to work for the first time.

You quickly pull yourself together frantically thinking “There is no way I am late to work my watch must be wrong!” You rush down the street and finally you make it to your job. You were a server and cook at old Al’s diner Miss Al was your boss. You reach for the door and find it is locked. Looking in the window you see the clock hanging over the counter it read 7:52am 38 minutes before your shift was supposed to start.

You breathed a sigh of relief and looked at your damn watch again but this time you were bewildered. It read 7:53 you were sure that it said 1:05 not even 15 minutes ago. Then old Al finally arrived and her face lit up when she saw you. “Awww you sweet thing coming in early again I told you that wasn’t necessary.” She said with a warm smile.

You didn’t have a thing for grannies but she had her own charm to her. “Man if only Old Al wasn’t so old.” You thought to yourself before returning to reality. You then followed in who you thought to be Miss Al but when you look up there was no way it was her. “Oh...I’m sorry are you new I thought Miss Al was opening the door did she stay outside?” You ask the middle aged woman in front of you.

“Oh ha ha sweet thing how nice of you to say. Or at least imply just because I do my hair differently doesn’t make me any less Miss Al.” Miss Al said standing there proudly.

There was no way the woman in front of you with no wrinkles was old Al. Then you look up at the mural that she recently had painted on the wall and no longer did it say old Al’s. No, now it clearly stated Al’s Diner and Breakfast.

You weren’t sure what to believe anymore. Your mind was racing what was going on?