She wouldn’t recall the date, I thought. Despite having just turned four, she inexplicably kept inquiring about the date of her “cake day.” The problem is that three weeks ago, I lost my job. The rent was past due. I applied everywhere, but the phone remained silent. In addition, my mom, who generally lends a hand, was ill and hardly able to be alone. I therefore had nothing for her birthday. No pals over, no balloons, not even a single present. I felt like garbage. I made her breakfast and let her wear her beloved Super Mario sweater because, honestly,…
Author: World Wide
Greg was the sole reason I was there. He is my fiancé. Or was, based on how things turn out today. He enjoys riding motorcycles and participating in charity rides. I gave in when he pleaded with me to accompany him to this event, mainly because of the funnel cake and sunshine. I assumed it would be innocuous. Men wearing leather vests, loud engines, and sunglasses that make them appear tougher than they actually are. Looking across the barricade and meeting the eyes of the one person I hadn’t seen in nearly a decade was something I hadn’t anticipated. Nico,…
I nearly skipped it. The letter had a typed invitation to a “community honor event” but no return address. I assumed it was an error, perhaps intended for another person. I wasn’t a hero. I was no longer even a member of the force. I haven’t looked back since I left five years ago. However, there was something about the tone that made it seem unofficial. It was intimate. So I went. When I arrived, the weather was calm and beautiful. There were already a number of uniforms assembled outside the community center. Dressed individuals, some clutching flowers, some conversing…
I should have been relieved when they said we could finally depart. Rather, I was numb. I couldn’t get rid of the pit in my stomach, even though my daughter was grinning beneath her mask, holding onto her stuffed animal, and waving to every nurse she saw. We have nothing to return home to. While I was with her in the hospital, day and night, waiting for tests and treatments, the rent fell past due months ago. Her father had passed away. They “understood,” according to my employer, but two weeks ago they stopped phoning. That meant something to me.…
Everyone initially believed she was a member of one of the crowd. Live music, shaved ice, a small petting zoo, and a line of police cars and motorbikes for children to climb on were all part of the park’s family fair. There were people everywhere. She was small. sparkly sandals, a rainbow dress, and smudges on her face from eating sticky candy. No more than three years old. As if she had done it a hundred times, she approached the police bike, climbed on, and began fiddling with the controls. A neighboring cop laughed and inquired as to the whereabouts…
People were gathering for the neighborhood block celebration, even though it was nearly 90 degrees outside. A typical summer scene: food trucks, music, and a bounce house that is barely holding together. I was assisting two cops at the community engagement booth and attempting to maintain a laid-back atmosphere. Unless there’s a compelling cause, nobody wants to see a badge. At that moment, this young girl approached us directly. It was probably no more than three or four. She was holding a folded note in one hand and one of those melting freezer pops (blue raspberry or whatever) in the…
Around 9:30 p.m., I had just finished getting my youngest ready for bed when the phone rang. A child dialed 911, according to dispatch, but remained silent. I went to check out the modest residence in my zone where they tracked the call. I knocked, and a young lad in pajama shorts, barefoot, opened the door and held a phone as if it were his most prized possession. He appeared anxious but resolute. I heard him say that he was hungry. that all day he had not eaten. He and his younger sister, who was sleeping in the back room,…
When she pulled me over, I wasn’t exactly courteous. I was exhausted, running late for work, and already under a lot of stress from managing my two boys by myself. A speeding ticket was the last thing I needed. She gave me a warning rather than a fine and simply advised me to drive carefully while remaining composed while I vented. That was Tuesday of last week. My church told me that they were providing free lunches for families, so on Saturday we went inside the community center. My son kept complaining that he missed the cafeteria fare—there was something…
By the time I took a seat behind the wheel, I was already perspiring. I was aware that I was overanalyzing every action, and my hands were shaking uncontrollably. Parking in parallel? catastrophe. Once, I rolled a stop sign because I failed to signal. Not very good. Officer Latham, who was riding with me, remained silent and merely took notes as I muttered my apologies to the driving wheel. She requested me to wait inside while she completed the form after we had pulled back into the parking lot. Surrounded by other teenagers who either seemed relieved or utterly devastated,…
