A More Than Strange Encounter

                                    

                                          
It was a normal, sort of summer day when she got out of bed. Well, it was actually late April, but when one graduates a semester early, it could be taken into account as a summer day. She had been lying in bed, doing nothing productive, for four months. As much as her mom tried pushing her into getting a job, her stubborn, spiked tongue protested to have some freedom before going off to college. I'll make this Wednesday different though. she thought as she got out of bed.
                          
Her friends might call it a miracle, but Talisa Russo had come out of her sleeping grave, and into the sun. She was still in her pajamas as she walked out the back door, and onto the deck, book in one hand, coffee in the other. Her long, curly brown hair was pulled up into her typical high bun in order to prevent it from being whipped around in the hot, Texas wind. She took a seat in her favorite cushioned chair and continued where she left off in her book. 
                          
Talisa adored stories about adventures, action, and fantasies. Books were her escape. So much so, that a part of her couldn't help but believe that there were other worlds out there, full of mysteries and magic. Any world is better than this one. she thought. 
                          
Though many thought her to be mature for her age, she couldn't help but daydream and wander in worlds of her own. She wanted less responsibility, and more freedom to be herself without suffering for it in some way. Talisa was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't hear the door of the back gate open, or see the old man entering her yard.

Talisa looked up from her book to find someone staring at her. What the heck? When did this happen? This was without doubt the weirdest thing she'd seen in her life. The man had long grey hair, along with a beard, and was wearing grey robes and carrying a walking staff. The pointy hat he was wearing made him look like a character she'd read from a book at some point in her lifetime. She especially took note of the size of this man. He was huge! He had to be at least seven to eight feet tall, he towered over her. The only explanation that came to her mind was that he was one of those people who just grew to be exceptionally tall, like those people on the reality TV shows. 
                          
Talisa even took a couple of exaggerated blinks to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. Huh, I could have sworn that I'd locked the gate last night. she thought as she stared back at this incredibly large man. "Um, hi?" she offered. 
                          
"Hi? You're not as formal as I expected, are you?" he observed, still scrutinizing her with slightly narrowed eyes. 
                          
"Sorry, good morning?" That was the polite thing to say, right? 
                          
"What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or, perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning. Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on?" he asked. 
                          
Talisa wasn't even positive that she'd registered everything the man said. First, she was scolded for not being formal, now he was playing some kind of brain buster on her? She couldn't help but be a little offended. "I don't know, you're the one who said I should be more formal, remember?" was her reply, not a single ounce of her sassy attitude left out of her tone. The old man narrowed his eyes ever more slightly, still scrutinizing her.

The poor girl felt like she had been sitting under his uncomfortable gaze for minutes. Maybe she should try going along with him, and when he got what he wanted, he would leave. "I'm sorry, can I help you?" she offered. "That remains to be seen. I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure." he replied. 
                          
Talisa furrowed her brows. Had she heard him right? What the heck was an outrageously tall, old man, who she didn't even know, asking her to go on an adventure for? Plus, what would anyone be asking anyone to go on an adventure for? Weren't they busy with work, and kids, and finances? This guy had to be under the influence of something, whether it was alcohol, drugs, or even dementia. 
                          
"Uh, I think you have the wrong person...and the wrong lifetime, no one just goes on adventures, there's literally no time for that sort of thing." She gave a small laugh, trying to lighten things up a little. When she found the man hadn't said anything, or even smiled back, she became even more uncomfortable in the situation. 
                          
"Look, why don't you try next door? I'm sure that Pete's grandkids would love to go on an adventure with you." She gave a small nod in the direction towards the house of her next door neighbor, along with another uncomfortable smile. "Well, I've got a lot of work to do, I'm a very busy woman. I'll...see you around." The girl turned around to go inside, hoping that would be the end of it. 
                          
"To think that I would live to see such a curious little sprite turn her back on me as if I were selling buttons at the door!" he all but shouted, his annoyance with the young woman evident.

Talisa turned around, almost stunned. "Excuse me?" she asked, now completely confused. 
                          
"You know what I mean, all your life you've wanted nothing more than to escape from your life and experience freedom." the man replied, now perfectly calm. Talisa's eyes widened at this. She had never told anyone that before, not even in her childhood. How is it that this stranger walks into her backyard and automatically knows her deepest desire? 
                          
"Ok, do I know you?" she had to ask. 
                          
"I know you, Talisa Russo of America." he answered. What? He knows her name too? HOW? Wait, did he just say "of America"? Talisa could tell by his accent that he wasn't from around here, but that phrase? That sounded more than foreign. 
                          
She stared the old man down, as if her eyes could make him tell her everything he knew. He smiled at this. "As for me, my name is Gandalf, and Gandalf means...me." he said. Gandalf? What kind of a name was Gandalf? This guy was crazy! Talisa was about to lose her head when she remembered what she'd told herself earlier. 
                          
Ok, just stay calm, and when he sees that I'm not what he's looking for, he'll go away. "Ok, Gandalf, is there anything else I can help you with? Something that I'm actually capable of doing? Like breakfast?" she offered. 
                          
"No thank you, but it's decided. It will be very good for you, and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others!" he announced, and began to turn around. 
                          
Wait what? Talisa didn't remember agreeing to anything. She began to start, she had to tell this old coot that she didn't want anything to do with what he was planning. WAIT! She stopped herself. He was walking away! That was what she wanted, wasn't it? 
                          
Instantly, Talisa took off into the house with her book and coffee in her hands and locked the back door. While she was at it, she went to make sure the front door was locked and the garage door was closed. She then went back into the coziness of her bedroom and played some of her favorite rock music on her iPhone to calm her nerves. She played the music so loudly that she didn't hear the scratching sounds of a mark being made on her front door.

Talisa relaxed even more when her mom came home, even though she did get a bit of a scolding for "leaving the back gate open". "I've told you countless times, Talia, a robber could come back here and swim in the pool for all we know!" Talia had heard this saying from her mother often; it was meant as a joke, but also as a firm warning to keep the gate closed. She took the scolding gladly, wanting to get as far away as possible from her thoughts of what happened earlier that morning. 
                          
"I'll be leaving on Friday afternoon for a small business trip and won't be back until Monday. You can handle being by yourself for that long, right?" her mom informed her that night. Of course Talia could take care of the house for the weekend! She may be only seventeen years old, but she was responsible enough to not cause trouble, and she had never been the type to throw some trash party while having the house to herself. However, Talia had no idea what was to come two days from now, so she simply forgot all about the eight-foot tall old man, "Gandalf", and crashed into her bed.