August 18, 2007
by Mike Palecek
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Jesus Mary and Joseph! God Bless America.
Hey.
Ohmygod.
Howya doin'? Let me catch my breath.
I'm deployed with the guys on one of the silver metal benches outside the city swimming pool.
We're watching.
For terrorists.
Dude.
They can't swim.
Dead-dog giveaway.
It is also late in the summer and I suppose the moms have those el primo tans, as well as the lifeguards in their one-piece red suits and those whistles that dangle like necklaces.
Anywho.
We - that would be myself, Don, Milt, Al, Fred - we are the newly formed municipal special forces team: Total Information Terror Surveillance.
We have been duly organized and chartered and deputized I think, by the city council, to guard against terrorists, beginning this month and running through the school year, is how I understand it.
Don came up with this idea to come here. The pool's open up to Labor Day.
He says "why do you think they call them wetbacks?" And the rest of us had to admit it made perfect sense.
And then of course everybody knows, Arab-types will often position towels on their heads.
Lots of towels around here today.
Al's got four in his lap, won't give any out to anybody, "without good reason," he says.
It's hot today, big crowd, lots to watch, keep track of, monitor, observe.
Sometimes we get soaked. We're pretty close to the action. We act like we like it that way.
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Al's got the beeper in case we need to call for backup towels. His wife's home most of the day. Tomorrow she's got shit to do.
By now the lifeguards don't wear that white stuff on their noses, everything au naturale.
We've got sunglasses from Ben Franklin, orange terror vests and shorts, and special "Homeland" orange hardhats. That was Al's idea. They came from the state highway maintenance shed from the big patch job they had last summer out by the Go-Kart track. If it gets too hot ... well, Don's going to ask a councilmen who's his neighbor if we can take them off while the pool has rest break, get some breeze.
Some ladies get up quick when they are napping on their stomachs, and maybe they have that one string not tied ... Milt had to go home early yesterday. It gets to a guy ... this work is not for everyone.
And we've each got a terror whistle on a string around our necks. Fred blew his, loud, for about a minute straight just a few minutes ago when Mrs. de Champlain walked past on her way to the water fountain. I don't think he even knew he was doing it.
Some days it's about all a guy can do not to blow the damn thing all day long.
Don keeps his in his mouth all the time, like a referee. Does not move, scratch, nothing. He loves freedom that darn much. He is so dedicated, an inspiration to us all.
Okay, well, Nothing happening here at the moment. Look out ... cannonball. God Bless the USA.
Go about your day.
I got this.
- Mike
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Mike Palecek [send him email] is an activist for peace and social justice. He served time in federal prison for civil disobedience and has run for US Congress. He has authored a number of books [click here to view] on behalf of the cause.
