“I need you to listen to me very carefully. You don’t know me, but I know you,” the strange woman said.

I stared at her, wondering what she wanted. Mommy had always told me to not talk to strangers, but maybe once I’ll ignore her.

The woman continued, “Your mother may not be what she seems. Watch yourself.”

“What?” I asked. ‘Not what she seems,’ it didn’t make sense, Mommy was kind.

“Shoot, I don’t have much time,” the woman whispered to herself. She sighed, “Just . . . pay attention to the news, I don’t know how to explain it to you, you’re only five.”

“I’m six.”

“Same thing,” she said before looking over me. “I have to go. Remember what I said!” she ran away when she finished.

I turned around, wondering what worried her, and I saw Mommy. She smiled at me and asked, “Who was that honey?”

“I don’t know, but she said she knew me . . .”

“Come on, let’s go home,” she said as she took my hand and dragged me to an odd white van and started the car.

After a long while in the car, I heard Mommy’s phone buzz a weird alarm.

“What was that?” I wondered.

She looked at me, with a strained smile, “Nothing you need to worry about sweetheart.”

“Okay!”