A bad experience at the Queens Center Mall

In 1989 when High School was coming to an end and young people my age were getting their driver's licenses, we were able to go and about to different places. One of my friends to first get his license was Patrick, and he loved putting his 1982 Datsun 200SX to good use.

On one gloomy and rainy day Patrick came by and wanted to head over the the Queens Center Mall to waste some time. We hopped in the car and he immediately hit the electric doorlocks. I always found that behavior odd. My family never acted like that when we went out.

We headed off into the rain. He preferred to park in the lot across the street, as it was free in those days. After we successfully killed a couple hours in the mall, we get back to the car and hop in. As always he locked the doors. He put the car into reverse, eased off the clutch and attempted the peer through the fogged rear window.

"YO!" we heard a couple voices bellow. Patrick slams on the brake and the clutch. Two very large hoodlums come walking down either side of the car cursing up a storm all the while.

Patrick did the right thing and immediately apologized for not having seen them. Of course he still had the windows rolled up. Why take chances?

It was good that Patrick took such precautions as these two youths were now pulling on the door handles trying to get INTO THE CAR on either side. Realizing the gravity of the situation, a look of grim determination came over my friend's face. The car was back in reverse and speeding out of the spot. Once cleared of the spot the car was in first gear peeling out towards the exit gate.

We never looked back, it was full speed forward for the next spot.

If not for Patrick's locking ritual, who knows what horrible situation we may have ended up in.