An Unexpected Island Encounter
by Mr.e

We were enjoying the last get-away of the summer on an island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.

The mood was tranquil, the weather sunny and warm and a steady breeze kept things from getting too hot.

The weekly village open air market had drawn us into town where the local vendors and hustlers hawked their wares, drawing in the innocent tourist types with varying degrees of tact, boldfaced lies and cunning marketing savvy. Sun baked home made cheeses tainted the breeze downwind of the stalls they were stacked in, overpowering the delicate scents of freshly picked herbs and the rough chunks of hand made soap containing mysterious solid bits.

Not half an hour after we staggered into the maze of tightly packed booths, (joining in an almost drunken shuffle adopted to get form point "A" to the next point of interest, so thick were the tourist hordes) the tropical scenario suddenly began to shift away from its implied tranquility and veered off to the left; abruptly.

My significant other grabbed one of my elbows not engaged in making physical headway and forcefully steered me clear of the sweating masses. She got right to the point and advised me with that serious look that she believed she had spotted someone whom we had studiously been avoiding rather successfully for the better part of three years.

This was not going to be like running into a long lost friend. Nope, this was the exact opposite. I sobered up immediately. I should remind the reader that I had not yet touched a drop, it being still very much the first half of the day!

The bliss we had been unaware of until now crumpled about us like a sweat soaked Seersucker suit. Suddenly the stalls, vendors and the deals were forgotten as our eyes began to scan every living creature within sight for any semblance of the ones to avoid.

The reason we were avoiding these people is another story that may or may go down in our personal history as inane, insane or entirely reasonable. We’re sticking to the latter. The day of leisure and the privilege of being ripped off by the locals took on a new flavor and one that we were not very fond of at all.

Fate spat in our eyes and marked us for some unpleasantness, which appeared shortly in the form of the two people we most expected not to meet on this island. The odds were certainly odd that day.

The ensuing dance at the far end of the market was a pretty squirmy affair, laced with unwilling small talk and tripe. I could think of nothing other than strong drink, and lots of it too. We learned that they’d just gotten to the island to begin their holidays.

Well, as in most such situations of extreme discomfort, the first reason to break off such an encounter is usally the one used, even if it is not thoroughly thought through. I can’t remember if I told them I had something on the stove or what, but we managed to disengage and made a beeline for the other side of town.

Regrettably the rest of our island stay was a haunted affair. We were constantly looking over our shoulders and peering around corners lest we run smack dab into ‘them’ again. It’s a small world, but damn it all, you’ve got to get out once in a while.