The flyer was some silliness about "cleansing" your body every month with cabbage or something, so I stopped reading and put it aside so I could concentrate on the Science podcast I had been listening to.
I had assumed our encounter was over, but he had taken the machine right next to my treadmill. When I accidentally dropped the baseball cap I use to keep my hair out of my face, I decided to stop running long enough to pick it up. That's when he verbally pounced on me.
"You know the government doesn't like me passing out those flyers."
Oh shit here we go, I thought. "What do you mean, the government?" I wanted to distinguish between police officers, NSA, etc. but I guess I wasn't clear.
"You don't know who the government is?" he seemed surprised.
"I mean, I don't understand why anyone would care about you passing out these flyers." Why am I still talking to this guy?
I don't remember exactly what he said, but it was something like "They like to brainwash people. You ever hear of mind-control devices?"
The dubious expression on my face must've given me away because he seemed to be upset or hurt that I didn't believe him. He took his flyer back, saying I didn't deserve it or respect him. As he walked away I tried to ignore him and resume listening to my podcast.
But he didn't leave the gym right away, and I was a bit uncomfortable every time he walked by me, worried he'd try to to talk to me again. He soon left the gym, though, and I relaxed again.
After I finished jogging, I saw I was alone in the gym with a woman riding one of the upright stationary bikes. I thought perhaps I should warn her about this guy. I apologized for interrupting her workout, and briefly told her how he had talked about his flyer, and his paranoid thoughts about brainwashing and mind-control devices from the government. She told me he had tried to give her a flyer but she refused it. He didn't bother her after that.
As I continued my workout and started thinking more about the guy, my selfish annoyance changed to (slight) concern. I had seen him around the Community Center a few times -- usually in the gym, or as I walked past him with the dog as he sat on one of the benches around the man-made pond at the Center, smoking a cigarette. (Hey at least he works out... and apparently "cleanses"). He had never talked to me before, though.
Why today, though? Was this a way for him to call out for help? Should I tell "the government" about him? I realized that even had I the will to help him, I hadn't the slightest idea how to go about it. If he had a broken ankle, I could call an ambulance for him. But a slightly broken psyche? Unless he's threatening someone or himself, the 911 personnel would probably laugh at me.
I don't think this guy is going to hurt anyone -- but that doesn't mean he doesn't need help. If you have any thoughts about this please comment.
