The sweetest thing

Have I told you guys the praline story yet? I don't think I have:

One Monday I was walking out of work - I work above a factory and have to walk through the factory and badge out of a turnstile into the parking lot every day. (So glamorous, I know, don't be jealous now)

On this particular day, I was waiting for a friend to pick me up, because my car was in the shop. One of the hourly plant workers was hanging out by the turnstile on his break, and he struck up a conversation. This was an older man, probably mid-to-late 50s, skin like leather and very gaunt. I was about to turn 21 at the time, not yet as jaded as I am now, so I chatted with him for a bit. He asked where I was from, where I went to school, that sort of thing. My ride showed up and I said goodbye.

The next day, he was there waiting for me when I left. I'd picked up my car the previous afternoon, so I talked to him for a bit and made an excuse to leave. Wednesday afternoon: same story.

On Thursday I got smart. Exhausted from a long week, I picked up my phone and pretended to make a call as I saw him waiting by the turnstile. I continued my fake conversation as I passed, and he walked up and stood right in my path. I looked up, and he said, "Oh, Ah'm sahrry. Ah didn't see yew were on tha phone. Go ahead an finish yur call, Ah'll wait." Sigh.

I finish my fake phone call and fake hang up, saying, "Yes?" At this point I notice he has a small plastic-coated white paper bag in his hand, the kind you get at a candy store if you buy chocolates. He puts it in my hands, clasping his hands over the top, and says, "Mah waife packed this in mah lunch and Ah cain't eat it. Nah Ah rehmembered yew said yew was from LSU, and ah thought yew maight enjoy it."

Completely creeped out, I thanked him and walked hurridly to my car. Safely in the driver's seat, I opened the package. There, wrapped in tissue paper, was...

...a half-eaten praline. And when I say half-eaten, I mean he took a bite out of it. There were teeth-marks, people! Teeth-marks!

Even after 4 years, that makes my skin crawl.