To Be Or Not To Be Wary (fiction)

“Are you looking for anyone in particular?” Alison asked, as she waltzed out of the clothing store loaded down with shopping bags.

“No, why?” Georgina whipped around from perusing the throngs of mall shoppers and added, “I was just passing the time waiting for you.”

“Well, you seemed quite intent on eyeing everyone who passed by.”

“I’m a people watcher.”

“Since when?”

“Okay, Jack says I don’t pay enough attention to what’s going on around me. He says I never notice when he gets a haircut, or when the neighbor lets his dog poop on our front lawn.” Alison threw her head back cackling. Then she glared into Georgina’s eyes.

“Well, I also read a newspaper article about people skulking around in public places, and how some might be planting bombs and how we, as citizens, should be more vigilant.” Georgina turned and nodded toward the bench in front of the mall’s grand fountain, “There! Doesn’t that man look suspicious?”

“No!” Alison sniggered. “He’s just sitting there with a bunch of packages, probably waiting for his shopaholic wife.” She tried to motion Georgina to follow as she started walking off. However, she was weighted down with bundles, so she turned and said, “Come on, let’s check out the shoe store.”

Georgina hastened to catch up, but stopped momentarily to glance back. She saw the man scrambling for the exit door. Her eyes immediately focused on the bench—the packages still sat underneath it.