When a man approached me at the mall

Originally appeared online in the teen series Your Healings -  May 21, 2024.

I wanted out from under my parents’ thumbs—I wanted independence. It was 1975, and I was trying to find my way in the world—hip-huggers, halter tops, bandannas, bare feet, and all. 

One weekend, I was enjoying a brief window of freedom while shopping at the mall. I was deep in my own thoughts and completely unaware of my surroundings. 

As I walked out of a store, a man approached me. He was very friendly and showered me with compliments. That got my full attention. He told me he was a producer and wanted me for a hair spray commercial. This wasn’t as bizarre as it might sound—the mall was in Los Angeles. 

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