It was a little . . . disturbing

@GardenGerty (169448)
United States
December 27, 2025 6:49pm CST
So, when we got up and around today Bob and I were going to do a little bit of a different kind of shopping. I stumbled across a synopsis of a book that I know he would like. The only problem is that it is out of print. I tried all of my usual sources, and I can get it on Kindle, but he does not want to read that way. I tried my usual sources for used books, to no avail. The Newton Public Library tried to get it, and it is not available in Kansas. They suggested thrift shops. We went to a Used Book Store first, as it is going out of business and we would want to patronize them. Then we went to the Newton Et Cetera Shop. This is a chain of stores run by a particular church and there are many of them across the country. No luck either of those places, but Bob found a couple of things he did want. We were walking through the store and I was going to do some more shopping when this 30 something young man wearing a KU sweat shirt came up and struck up a conversation. He asked if it would be too weird to ask why we came to Kansas, and if we had lived there all of our lives, and so on. We made conversation, but he had a hard time letting go of the discussion. He told us where he was born, where he grew up and how he had come to a small private college here. Showed us his AAA card and introduced himself, laughing because his last name was Smith. We talked about how nice Newton is and then he asked us if we have ever heard of Florence, Ks. We did tell him that is where we live. He says he owns a house in Florence that he got for cheap. He described the location, but did not know the street. He did not know the landmark for where we live. He never gets to visit his house in Florence and would like to go back sometime. We finally broke away from the conversation. Bob went to the car. I continued to shop. We did not see Jim Smith leave. My conclusion: This young man is either a very high functioning person with disabilities, or autism, or he is a mental health client in Newton. There is a large treatment facility there.Lots of outpatient. Group homes, etc. He was harmless, enjoying himself, and it was a very strange coincidence that he knew anything about Florence. Still it was a little disturbing.
17 people like this
14 responses
@DaddyEvil (174320)
• United States
28 Dec
I would have found that odd, too. You may very well be correct with one of your conclusions. I'm glad he didn't recognize the landmark for where you live.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
He did not even know the street that he owns a house on, so that tells me he has some knowledge gaps. From what he told me, I could probably find his house, and it probably is somewhat derelict based on where he told me it is.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174320)
• United States
28 Dec
@GardenGerty He did say he got it cheap.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
@DaddyEvil I got mine cheap as well. Property generally is cheap in Florence.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120637)
• United States
28 Dec
Oh, Heather, that IS disturbing. I don’t feel good about that at all.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
I mostly felt annoyed when we could not get him to quit talking. It was super weird that he knew where Florence is.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208797)
• United States
28 Dec
I guess he meant no harm. I don't tend to like it when strangers talk to me too much though..unless they are particulary engaging or something
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
Yes, I agree. On the other hand, my husband Bob sometimes does similar things. Even Bob got tired of this young man over sharing, and it was less than ten minutes.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502258)
• Italy
28 Dec
May be he only wanted to chat, but I agree that it was disturbing. I am sure he invented the fact he had a house in Florence, as he did not know the street and the landmark, this is odd.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
I do not know, but I know someone I could ask at some point. If I want to spend my time that way.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502258)
• Italy
28 Dec
@GardenGerty - It would be interesting to know.
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
28 Dec
I would have been on alert too. He was holding on and asking a lot of questions about you. He could have been a scammer or someone with mental health issues. His buying a house but not sure where, that sounds like the latter.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
He says he owns the house. Physically he was at an appropriate distance, but he did share more than we needed to know. Bob says he thinks he has seen him before in town. We have a small HUD housing set of apartments. They are somewhat near where he says he owns a house.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
28 Dec
That definitely is odd and weird. It would be disturbing too. We live in times when we don't feel comfortable having long conversations with strangers. One of your guesses might be right. Some high functioning autistic individuals are like that.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
Yes, I have worked with that population and that was my first choice, but did not want to really label it as there may be some high functioning autistic people who are active here.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Dec
Some people are pathological liars and make it up as they go. Some get pretty far with it too. We have to be careful out in the world nowadays. It takes all kinds you know. Just one more reason I stay inside.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
1 Jan
My sister, the older one, could not tell a story straight for the life of her. I took everything she said with a grain of salt. She was harmless, but could be off putting.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Jan
@GardenGerty .......I can imagine.
@jstory07 (148731)
• Roseburg, Oregon
28 Dec
That was odd and disturbing.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
29 Dec
I wish I had watched him after we went about our business, but I did not. He might have had a support person with him.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97954)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Dec
That certainly was very unusual.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
29 Dec
There are three or four adult support agencies in this town that work with people with mental challenges. I figure he might be in one of those programs.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69161)
• Centralia, Washington
28 Dec
Did you feel the guy was somehow dangerous and maybe he could or would follow you like a stalker? Very strange conversation coming from a stranger, for sure.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
No. I have worked in the field of adult disabilities, and he was not aggressive, just sort of innocently over friendly. He did not read social cues well.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Dec
I would have found that a bit disturbing too. It does sound like a bit like high-functioning autism.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
29 Dec
My mother always said I attract strange people.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Dec
@GardenGerty Isn't that interesting? We don't seem to know a lot about why/how we attract certain people.
@LindaOHio (222280)
• United States
28 Dec
I would have been disturbed too. Can you tell me the name of the book and author? I love challenges. I'd like to look for you.
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
29 Dec
Forsaken Heroes of the Pacific War: One Man's True Story by Kevin Moore and Don Morrow It is a really short book.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222280)
• United States
29 Dec
@GardenGerty There is a library in the Philippines that has it. lol At ThriftBooks it's temporarily unavailable. Sorry, I was only able to find it in eBook format.
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
28 Dec
He's a nut. He suffers partial amnesia or he just playing up with you. Just take for example in the science class. They talked about mind. Since mind isn't matter so never mind. Do you get?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
I think I do get your joke. I would say this young man maybe has Asperger's syndrome, which does not exist any more as it is a part of the "autism spectrum disorder" but it mainly means his mind functions differently and he does not have a good grasp on social appropriateness. And he gets preoccupied with things. His preoccupation seems to be "why do people come to Kansas?"
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
28 Dec
@GardenGerty That's why social scientist come with different types of persons.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (59149)
28 Dec
Yes, that is a bit concerning. I'm glad you were able to get away from him! Heather, you might try Barnes&Noble online. They have a lot of older out of print books there. Yes, it would cost more than a thrift store, but you could look there. Good luck on finding the book.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
I can check there. Jane's husband reminded me to continually check back with the used book sellers I usually use as they get things in all the time.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
28 Dec
@MarieCoyle Powells Books in Oregon is a huge book reseller. They are online.That is the first place I looked.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (59149)
28 Dec
@GardenGerty I love used book stores and looking at all the older books!
2 people like this