The Bros

 

It's dark. It's misty. The next storm is blowing in. Dispatch sends me on a shots fired call on the south edge of downtown. A block search reveals nothing. The few people who venture downtown these days have heard nothing, so I start checking the transient camps along the exit ramps of the freeway. 

I walk into the hollow between the doug firs and the brush on well worn muddy trails. The first camp is abandoned. I scan the detritus: the human waste, uncapped needles, and piles of items scrapped for the metal. As I decided on the best path, I know I am being watched. I check my six. Nothing. Nothing to the flanks. Check my six again. Then, I hear it: scratching in the trees. I watch as large raccoon slides down a tree and lopes towards me. 

I spot my flashlight on him and say, I dont' know you. You can stay right there.

The raccoon pauses and drinks from a puddle like he has been doing it the whole time. He's watching me, realizing I am not his friend. 

I turn to continue into the abandoned camp only to nearly step on a rat, the size of my smallest cat, dancing at my feet. The rat retreats into the garbage. I complete my search and turn back to the raccoon blocking the path to the next set of camps. 

The raccoon is still drinking and watching. He's not going anywhere. 

I wait. 

The raccoon stares, so I circle, counter-clockwise, around the hollow. Half-way along my course, the raccoon waddles over to a cyclone fence and climbs part way up and then stops. He just hangs there as if he is part of the background. 

With the raccoon out of the way, I proceed down the path to a camp of six tents.

The first has light and movement. 

I call out, It's the police. Good evening.

The occupants call out in surprise rather than alarm. 

Somebody report hearing a shot and I am checking the camps to make sure everything is okay.

A woman's voice from the tent says, "Oh, you scared us! But thank you for checking on us! It's a bit dark and scary back here."

Yeah, I saw a big raccoon down the trail.

The woman replied, "They're our bros! We feed them. They keep the rats away!

 

 

 

Comments

[fritz]

Makes sense. Rats and snakes are not something people think of when they think of 'transients'.

In the wild.

[fritz]

across the road from my shop is a transient, right outside the city limit, who lives in the bushes. All he wants is to be left alone.

Some of the other transients have taken taken advantage of him and so he moved to a 'hide'.
He has talked about rodents and other 'creatures' he has to deal with on a daily/nightly basis.

I sat down with him //after running out and giving him coffee and tea for over two months//

That his worries are:

Privacy
and
the govt:
in his words:
"The govt wants to help me become dependent upon the govt. and in that regard I have no choice or who or what they do."

I told him that I have known about him for over six months and I believe he has the right to do what he wants as long as he is not harming anybody. I was just concerned and I won't tell jack shit about him.

Sometimes he even comes over now and I chat with him.

Nice guy. Shell shocked and suffering but I understand it.

One day he might rejoin our fucked up society.
Uber Alles!

I envy him in some ways.

[fritz]

I got a present from my boss today: A police belt.
wtf?
I told him it's too wide and why?
He smiled at me.
I don't understand it.
What wrong am I doing by commenting or being myself?

I told him it wouldn't fit in rings in my pants.
"Thank you, but why?"

Shakes my head.

and what really bothers me is that he searched for a store in Modesto and said it was the best.
Best at what?
Why not a good pair of boots?
What am I to do with a police belt?
is there some damn thing I am missing?

[fritz]

Hell yah! got some shit for my belt.
booyah

The belt was neat, but when he pulled out the other things.

Seems that some labs love me.
he he.

best in the world.
lightning belt and well.
it's something secret...
smiles.