I wait at the entrance to the gym
for at least ten minutes
my eyes scanning the parking lot
like some Secret Service agent

there is a man on the sidewalk
a couple girls sitting on a bench
and a mom getting a kid out of her car
I jog straight down the sidewalk
but the man steps in front of me
I stop dead
I have never seen him before
he is tall, clean-cut
his eyes flash with anger

he points at me
“Drop this now,” he says

I look around but no one seems to be nearby
I start to move around him
but he steps in front of me again,
careful not to touch me

“You’re going to ruin him with your lies.
I won’t let you destroy my son.”

this time I fake left and run right and sprint to my car
he doesn’t follow but stands and glares at me as I go
my heart racing
fearing the father less than the son