A Day In The Life
Untouched by fire. (excerpt from my forthcoming book, "Vacancy")
So…the other day I guess I passed a milestone. And you know just how painful that can be…just ask any urologist! All kidding aside, I was about to come into the chow hall at the prison where I was incarcerated at the time.
My house (unit) was in line and I was at the tail end with my friend, Matt. Nothing unusual on my radar at the time, though I was always on guard. Then, another house arrived and piled in behind ME. Still, no big deal, I thought, or anything that seemed out of order. Until…
Our two lines converged and became one. Still, I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Then suddenly, I realized some rather…how shall I say it… “outspoken”, individuals behind us were trying to say something to some of us. Well, not to SOME but to ME.
A bunch of loud, rowdy guys had suddenly aimed their pre-dinner conversation at me for some reason. It took me a few moment to realize it. As I turned around to look I could see I was the point of their barbs and witticisms! Now I began to process what they were saying.
It was like, oh…you know…just general stuff like: “We gonna beat you up.” And, “I wanna pick a fight with you.” You know, general light-hearted conversation. UGH. Some mirthful repartee. But it then hit me that they were indeed looking at ME.
It totally caught me off guard. It began to sink in that THIS could be the moment I had been fearing most. But something happened then and there that changed all that…
Oddly, I just did not feel afraid or threatened. When I looked at the guys all I could see were a bunch of loud, rambunctious youth just drawing my attention to themselves, trying to be in the spotlight of their own making. In short, just having some fun, trying to look tough. I could hear the laughter in their voice.
I could see it in their eyes.
I was calm, relaxed. Something…some force…had given me total control of the situation. I can’t explain it any other way. I hadn’t any time, really, to prepare for this moment. What to say? What to do? It was happening so fast. I could tell it wasn’t planned. Just a bunch of your guys “wilding”…being loud, rowdy and playful.
So, as I looked at them in response to wanting to fight, I said:
“Who? Me??”
Reply: “Yeah!!”
”Why ME?”
Reply: “Because!”
”Do you KNOW WHO I AM?”
Reply: “Yeah!”
”Well, then you should KNOW better!”
Laughter overcame us all. Matt was rolling. They all broke into smiles as we all realized we were sharing a comical moment in a place which really ISN’T pleasant, passing time with a little fun as we were eagerly awaiting some food for a bunch of hungry souls. And that was that.
I broke the spell of that moment with some quick thinking, a knee-jerk reaction. At first, Matt was very tense and worried that I had finally stumbled into the nightmare I had been fearing all along. He was already beginning to think how this was going to go down and what he could do to help me out (Matt, by the way, is skinny as a rail). But, if need be, Matt “had my 6”. And I’m sure he WOULD have done SOMETHING.
It turned out to be totally unnecessary.
Daniel…in the lion’s den.
Joseph…in prison.
Jesus…about to be stoned to death.
And Rob…in the chow line.
Amen? Amen.
Amen!