I took today off work. I need it for reasons I won’t go into. My plan, such as it was, was to enjoy the day because it was to be such a perfect one — warm but not hot, not humid, sunny. A beautiful late summer’s day.

I went to Promontory Point about 10:45 a.m. and was reading on my blanket under the big, twin-trunked tree that could have been Robin Hood’s. I heard a voice and saw a man behind a tree. I thought his stance was odd, but assumed he was talking on a cell phone. Then, over the next hour and a half, I noticed he was circling me repeatedly. And would start talking now and again. Beyond, say, 10-15 feet, I can’t distinguish words well, but I caught enough snippets to realise that he was harassing me (and probably the odd stance was hiding behind trees and doing, ummm, things).

I kept hearing “book” (because I was reading) and then I heard (these bits were all distinct): “big ass,” “I know you ain’t got no boyfriend,” “**** you right there on that blanket,” and “lay back down,” and “lay on your stomach so I can see that big fat ass.” There were other bits as well. I ignored it as best I could and then finally left because I felt like I couldn’t move without provoking more verbal abuse, and the position I was in was aggravating my back (sciatica). At one point I think I heard him saying something about I’d (meaning me) be back and tomorrow. He probably saw me limping back to my building.

I haven’t had anyone bother me in years, and not for so long. And no one’s hinted that they’d continue to.

It was a gorgeous day, and I ended up feeling a bit scared and trapped. A lot, actually.

Tomorrow’s supposed to be lovely, too. I don’t know if I can go back . . .