Toe-ing the Line*
*This post has a filthy word in it.
This is post 18 of Section V. To begin at the beginning, go here. Section II begins here. Section III begins here. Section IV begins here, and Section V begins here
Stephen straightened up like a soldier, his mouth set grimly. “No. I want to go, now. But it’s just—why are they all against us?”
Bennett took a deep breath and began to explain, as tactfully as possible, at the same time separating “us” into more specifically accurate components, but Stephen interrupted. “No. I don’t mean, ‘Why are these assholes—excuse me—here?’ I mean, ‘Where’s the other side?’ Don’t they usually come out for these things, too?”
They soon found out. Arriving at City Center, they discovered that the parade was already moving on its route, and they were caught on the side designated for anti-gay protesters. Bennett waved his permit in vain at the stolid policeman.
“I keep telling you. Ya gotta go to the end of the line at Enders Station and catch up from there. No one across the yellow line.” He chewed ferociously on his gum and looked from Bennett to the two children with deep disapproval.
“Come on,” Stephen said, in an undertone, shooting the officer a resentful look. “We’ll find a way.” They drifted to the back of the crowd, looking for a less vigilant guardian. Bennett did not look hard. He was happy to fade into obscurity.
Continue
This is post 18 of Section V. To begin at the beginning, go here. Section II begins here. Section III begins here. Section IV begins here, and Section V begins here
Stephen straightened up like a soldier, his mouth set grimly. “No. I want to go, now. But it’s just—why are they all against us?”
Bennett took a deep breath and began to explain, as tactfully as possible, at the same time separating “us” into more specifically accurate components, but Stephen interrupted. “No. I don’t mean, ‘Why are these assholes—excuse me—here?’ I mean, ‘Where’s the other side?’ Don’t they usually come out for these things, too?”
They soon found out. Arriving at City Center, they discovered that the parade was already moving on its route, and they were caught on the side designated for anti-gay protesters. Bennett waved his permit in vain at the stolid policeman.
“I keep telling you. Ya gotta go to the end of the line at Enders Station and catch up from there. No one across the yellow line.” He chewed ferociously on his gum and looked from Bennett to the two children with deep disapproval.
“Come on,” Stephen said, in an undertone, shooting the officer a resentful look. “We’ll find a way.” They drifted to the back of the crowd, looking for a less vigilant guardian. Bennett did not look hard. He was happy to fade into obscurity.
Continue
posted by Hobbes at 8:46 PM
2 Comments:
Bennet doesn't want to be on either side. I often feel that way. Just watch and let them pass without being involved either way.
It's what makes this such an unusual issue. It's so tempting for those of us not directly involved to fade backwards.
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