Winter walk

My brother and I went out for a walk today. It was snowy, but we wore coats and all that, so I didn't mind. I just needed an excuse to get out of the house, now that school's been moved to online-only, and he felt the same way.

"So, you said you picked out presents for everyone?" he asked.

"Yeah, I've picked out presents for you and Mom, but I haven't ordered them yet. I feel better about those ones than the one I got for Dad."

"What'd you get him?" he asked.

"Catan."

 

He glanced behind us. I looked back too.

There was a man standing there in a black jacket. He didn't look at all cold. He just stood there, staring at me.

My brother laughed. "I was looking behind me to make sure Dad wasn't there," he said.

I would've found it funny too, if it weren't for the man standing behind us. Something about the way he stared at me really freaked me out.

"So, you want to go around the block again?" he asked.

"Um, no thanks," I said, shaking my head.

As we walked back to our house, he said, "It's always really awkward when someone's walking behind you, even though you know they're not following you or whatever."

I nodded, but I didn't say anything.

Mom was surprised when we walked in.

"Where were you?" she asked.

"We were just out for a walk," my brother said.

"Wow. In this weather?"

"We had coats on," I said.

"All right," Mom said, which, going by the tone of her voice, was in lieu of saying "Okay, weirdos."

I didn't bring up the man in the jacket to either of them.