Raindogblue

Growling Blessings

 

Under Beggar's Bridge, a transient died in his tent.

 As the M.E. examines the body, a man walks up,

pulls out his phone, and readies to take a pic.

I advance, block the body, and growl,

Have you no respect!

He squeeks, "But he's with Jesus now!"

Yeah, but the picture of his corpse doesn't need to be all over the internet.

The man lows the the phone and takes a step back. 

God bless you, sir.

He says "God bless," and walks away. 

 

 

 

 

The Next Exit

 

On the freeway, the one belting downtown, I am sent to find a woman walking along the center jersey barrier. She's not on the DOT cameras, but I find her a half mile from the split on downward slope of a blind curve. 

Flipping on my lights, I parked ahead of her in the three foot wide break down lane, and walk towards her, hands up. 

Hey. I smile. You are in a bad spot. Can I give you a lift off the freeway? I motion to the back door.

She says. "I'am trying to get off the circle."

I can take you to the east side and you will be far away from the belt line. 

She nods and gets in the back of the prowler as cars speed by. 

In the car, she asks, "Can you take me to Seattle? 

That's a little far, but I can take you to the east side away from downtown.

She says, "Can you please drop me off at the next exit."

Sure, thing. 

She's well dressed, not homeless, but a little odd.

As I take the exit to the east side, I ask, Have you been to Sanctuary? It's the local mental health hospital. 

"Yes, but I don't like it there. They are not nice to me."

I am sorry to hear that, but can I take you there? It's not problem for me. 

No, I am fine. I don't like it there.

Can I take you to another hospital? It would be my pleasure.

No, just drop me off somewhere safe. 

I find a quiet street she likes and let her out. I point to the west and say, That is downtown, you want to keep away from there. I point east. There's services a few blocks away and the area is nicer. 

She looks both ways, smiles at me, and heads off to the the east. 

As I get back in my car and start to pull away, the railroad crossing arms drop and the warning klaxon sounds at the crossing a half-block to the east.  I make a U-turn as the woman walks up the crossing arm and waits. Another driver copies my U-turn, blocking my the view in my rear view mirror.  

Then, I hear the echoing splat. I turn the car back around. 

I say to the other driver, "Did she just step in front of the train?"

He says, "I think so" and drives away.

I run to the train as it brakes. I find her fifty feet down the tracks under a car. Her feet are separated from legs, her head and arm are severed from her shoulder.

 

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

Off 13th, I respond to a priority threats call. 

On scene, a man tells me everybody is trying to kill him.

 

I ask, Who is trying to kill you?

 

"Everybody," he says.

 

Anybody in particular?

 

No! Everybody!

 

Do you have mental health issues?

 

"Yes, but that is not the point!"

 

Are you high on meth?

 

"Yes, but that is not the point."

 

So how can I help you today?

 

"Take me to some place safe."

 

And where would that be?

 

"I don't know."

 

Would you like to go to the hospital and be evaluated?

 

"Why would I need that? "

From Last Night's Riot

 

The Rule of Law

 

Off 10th, I arrested a woman on a cite in lieu warrant for burglary for the previous cite in lieu warrant for burglary she failed to appear on.

 

 

Cover

 

 

On the air, an officer announces she and her cover are fighting with one. 

I blast over and arrive to find the tweaker cuffed in the recovery position screaming, 

"Don't take my balls! if you steal my balls, the world will end?

Volcanos will explode and destroy the world! Don't steal my balls!"

 

 

Attire

 

Tonight's pinch wore a USB cord as belt.

 

 

Day 103

 

At tonight's protest, in the Alphabet District off First, a man drumming buckets in a dress fell as he stepped backwards and his high heels became stuck between the train tracks. 

 

 

 

On the Floor

 

In the mission, on the floor, he is seizing. His eyes are rolling back. He is crashing. I rub his sternum with my knuckles through his blood soaked shirt. 

 

Michael! You stay awake for me. God does not want you to die!

 

Michael's been stabbed in the throat.

 

A staff member is applying pressure to the wound with a blue wash cloth as he prays.

 

"Huh, wha?"

 

Michael starts breathing. He's gripping my left hand.

 

Michael! Talk to me! Your have to stay awake. Tell me you favorite apostle.

 

His eyes focus,  "It's Daniel."

 

Why? Tell me.

 

"He was brave. He fought the lion."

 

He seizes again and stops breathing. His hand let go.

 

I don't. I rub his chest with me right hand hard. My gloves are bloody. 

 

Michael. God does not want you yet. God wants you to fight and be brave like Daniel.

 

Five seconds pass, then ten. 

 

The staff member asks, "Should we start CPR?"

 

Give it a second.

 

And Michael's back, breathing, squeezing my hand.

 

He says, "I want justice."

 

You can't have justice if you die. Tell me who did this?

 

Pony Pete. He stabbed me. 

 

Pony Pete?

 

"He's wearing a hoody."

 

As his eyes roll back, the convulsions start again....