[img]958|left|Alex Campbell||no_popup[/img]Dateline Boston — Last year I went in to school to meet a new family and show them around. There was no one else at school because we were still cleaning up and getting ready for the beginning of the school year. After they left, I was straightening up one of the cubbies. I was standing by the basement door, which was open. A guy in the basement whom I didn’t know came over to me and said, “You work with kids?” I said yes, because I was in the nursery school and thought he had heard me with a kid earlier.
He said, “Wanna see something? Come here!” He went into the labyrinth of the basement. Ha, ha, he thought I was going to go down into the basement with a stranger, with no one else around. Yeah, right! “Wanna see something?” That has got to be the oldest line in the book for serial killers!
I had to think fast. I was just about to tell him that I was really busy, and back quickly up the stairs. But then he said he was part of the Boston Camera Club and he had a huge roll of paper he’d like to donate to us. I saw the paper. I saw all the camera equipment. I went over to the space. We introduced ourselves. We talked for a few minutes. He seemed legit. I took the paper and thanked him.
Did I feel like a jerk for suspecting a fellow photographer of murderous intent? A little. Did I still think he was a serial killer, trying to lure me with paper for the children? A little. Did I want to help the planet by recycling old paper? Yes.
It worked out. We saved a little money by not having to buy new paper. The guy didn’t try to kill me. He cleaned out his space. We helped each other, actually. I hope he didn’t suspect me of anything.
Ms. Campbell may be contacted at her new address, snobbyblog@gmail.com
