the catcher

I'm standing on the over-bridge watching the traffic below.
It's 8 pm, and dark. I'm checking out my new camera. Taking
a couple of snaps of the traffic below. I turn to go back, and
start walking and see a car slow down in the dark section
of the road in front of me . Blinking lights go on on it's roof .
It's a cop , and he's stopping for me.

My first thought is that I'm carrying no id.

The cop gets out of the car, closes the door and walks around
to the front.
One part of my mind picks up on the fact that he took time
to close the car door, and easily too . Not like he's in a hurry.
Or tensed . Definitely not itching to draw. I semi-relax and walk
towards the front of the car.

If I'd my lines rehearsed, it'd be "Officer ? something wrong ? "
As it is, I wear a foolish grin.

















Dark shirt, crew cut. Blue -red lights from his car play on his face.

"You okay ?" , he asks
"Yes !!", I say
"What're you doing here ?"
"Taking snaps"
"Of what ? "
"Of the traffic"
He almost smiles. Looks around. and says
"Well, I thought you were jumping"

That floors me. I affect surprise. I'm tickled pink at the idea.

"Not me !!" I say, grinning
He looks around to the cars waiting behind his parked car.
"Well, get moving" he says, and walks back to his car.

Maybe he was driving by on one of his patrols. Maybe someone
called on their cell-phone and he came by to check.

It felt good.

The system had spoken. And it said that maybe I'm worth something.
That I belong.