Assumptions ..............

Yesterday morning, I went back to the plastic surgeon. He said everything was healing normally, including what remains of my left eyebrow which I was concerned about. He said I could stop using the bacitracin ointment and the bandages - which I was assuming - but I should use a moisturizer for a while to deal with the scarring. That I didn't expect and - being a guy who lives alone - I had to stop and buy some.

Last night, I got a text from Doyle. It's funny how our interactions have evolved from face-to-face conversations to quick text messages, but I guess that's the way most of us communicate these days. The gist of the message was that he didn't think the scarring looked too bad.

I had two assumptions here - he was still out-of-state and one of his team must've sent him a picture, so they're still following me, even if it's loosely.

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Did you ever wake up with a song in your head? Or the desire for a particular food? Well, that's what happened to me this morning - both of them. "My Sharona" by the Knack was buzzing around in my head - I don't know why - and I wanted some fried chicken - not for breakfast, of course, but for lunch and/or supper.

I started at Shoprite because I assumed they'd have some out but it was kinda early and they didn't. I decided to head for Pathmark. I drove up through Avenel, where I saw the guy coming towards me.

It's quiet up here and there was no one else around.

Point, press, Flash.

I stopped at Pathmark but they didn't have any fried chicken. I headed to Foodtown in Iselin. I drove up St. George's Avenue to Inman Avenue.

Now, when I drive, I try to obey the rules of the road and I have a set of assumptions that I follow. Several of them now came into play.

One, if the guy in front of me keeps slowing at intersections, he's looking to make a turn and it'll probably be a quick one. I give him plenty of room. Two, whether or not the guy in front of me has his blinker on, he's probably gonna make a turn. I give him plenty of room. And Three, the guy behind me is probably pissed that I leave a lot of room in front of me but I don't care.

Foodtown didn't have any fried chicken, either. Probably still too early. I remembered that there was an A&P in South Plainfield so I headed there. I decided to kill some time by driving through a couple of strip malls, one of which had a Burger King. There was a landscaping crew working. This guy was using a leaf-blower and had on earphones. I always assume that they get wrapped in the silence and will just step out into the street without looking.

I slowed as I passed him.

Point, press, Flash.

I decided to stop at the North Edison Library. I've been here before and don't usually find anything so I assumed that would happen again. I was wrong. I picked up the 4th volume in Dean Koontz' Odd Thomas series and a book called "Myths And Mysteries of New Jersey" -  a cover price total of $25 but out-of-pocket only $.50.

I continued on towards the A&P.  Up ahead I saw this woman walking along the side of the road.

In a situation like this, and in this area, I always assume that the walker - not seeing anything coming towards them - will forget that there is traffic coming up behind them and just cross the street.

Again, I slowed as I passed by.

Point, press, Flash.

The A&P had the fried chicken that I'd been looking for, and I picked out a dozen legs - my favorite part - which should last me for a few days.

When I park in a lot, I tend to leave a lot of space between my car and others. Largely because there are so many SUV's and other large cars that - sometimes - I can't see while pulling out and I wind up inching out, which I find annoying. As I walked back to my car, I noticed a black SUV parked right next to me, on my driver's side.

I assumed it was Doyle or one of his men. As I got closer, I couldn't see anyone in the vehicle because the windows were tinted. I got in to my car, started her up, and lowered the windows a bit. That's when I heard the voice.

Gordon.

"Hello, Denny. I've been meaning to come by and see how you were doing with that squamous cell carcinoma situation but, frankly, I've been quite busy these last few weeks, leading our friend Doyle a merry chase through Delaware and Maryland. But, I've managed to leave him a few red herrings down there and I'm up to see how you are."

He had lowered the passenger side windows in the SUV, but I couldn't see him. I assumed that he was staying out of sight because of Doyle's people.

"I'm fine, Gordon. There's a bit more scarring then I would've liked but they tell me all is well. We'll see."
"Very good. I'm glad to hear that, my friend. ... You do realize that I consider you my friend, don't you Denny?" He started off confident but ended ... I don't know ... desperate?
"Sure, Gordon. I know that. .. I'm doin' good. So ... how's things goin' for you?"

He laughed.

"Everything is falling into place. It shouldn't be too long now before I make my statement. I'm happy to hear that you are well, Denny. Please stay that way."

The windows started to go up on his SUV.

"Please leave the lot now, Denny."

The windows closed completely.

I drove away, heading home. Gordon was up here in New Jersey while - I thought - Doyle assumed he wasn't.

Sometimes we're right and sometimes we're wrong. but we all make ...

assumptions.