Prelude To Lockup (No Crime Needed)

A police officer finds a severely retarded person in a basement and wants to do the right thing but...

                            

 

 

 

PRELUDE TO LOCKUP

(No Crime Needed)

 

 

            As the social worker walked toward the house; the police officer hurried to catch up.  Walking beside the aging blue haired lady, he wanted to prepare her for what she was going to encounter within the confines of the old Victorian house.  He had found the young man quite by accident earlier that morning when a concerned citizen called the police station and reported that her elderly neighbor had not been seen in three days.  That was the reason he had gone to that address and found the elderly woman dead.  Looking around, he was not only shocked, but appalled, at what he had found locked away in the basement of that old historical home. 

            The officer walked faster trying to keep up with the social worker so that he could tell her what he had found.  He wanted to explain to her that he had been a cop in that city for 22 years and thought he had seen it all...until today.  Today, however, would start a new chapter in his book of life as he tried to make some sense out of the cruelty he had stumbled onto.   He wanted to explain to her that because of his brother being born with a disability, he had first-hand knowledge about the inhumane treatment of people in the state-run institutions, but they were already on the front porch of the stately old house.

            She turned toward him and asked, “Are you the officer that was first on the scene?”

            “Yeah, and I would like to talk to you.”

            “Later...just keep everyone back.  The last thing I need is for some bleeding-heart to tell me how to do my job.  When the people from the state facility get here, show them where to find the subject and then don’t let anyone try to help them.   I’m certain they will know how to handle this situation.”

            The officer watched the social worker disappear through the door and then stood guard keeping everyone back as he had been instructed.  He realized that professional courtesy was more than just a few words spoken at the proper time.  It was a way of life and a way to keep his job.  It no longer mattered that he had something to say; his job was the only security that his family had and he wouldn’t risk it for a person that he didn’t even know.  Besides, the person that he had found might not know the difference anyway.  Maybe he didn’t even have a whole brain.  Maybe he would be better off living someplace where all of his needs would be met and he would be among his own kind.  Maybe he didn’t have the ability to make a choice and needed someone else to do his thinking for him.  Maybe he had the mind of a two-year-old.

            Then the officer remembered something he had heard someone ask; ‘Since when is it okay to lock up a two-year-old?'  

 

 

Reviews

[SR Urie]

Hello John,
Well done! It's funny how you can say volumes in such a short story. Undertones and ideas that scream from between the lines makes this an excellent thought provoker. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work, sir. BZ

[Cherry Berry]

This is a heart breaking and thought provoking piece. Well penned. I enjoyed reading.
xox
Cherri