With some minor exceptions, today has been craptastic. The Japan-America career fair that ended at 5 actually ended at 3, and thus I showed up when it was all over. Dinner with friends (Happy Diwali) was fun, but I ended up spending 35$ somehow. The cherry on this fucking fudge sundae was when I got stopped by the cops, and that is the tale for this thread.
After mass, I was heading back to my place when I decided to walk through the seminary. It’s a really beautiful campus, and especially tonight when the stars were at their twinkly best. I wished I had a telescope. I mean I felt like I could see pictures in the stars like peoples of old. Anyway, so I’m walking along when I realize I’m not heading the right direction, but I eventually find a path in between some bushes and a building.
Upon exiting the bushes, there are two girls walking along, having come out of a building a little way down the road. A few months ago I met a girl going to dance practice in that building, and these girls were wearing sweatpants soooo as they walk by I said ‘hello’ and then ‘dance practice?’ They said yes, and they were 10 feet the other way from me by then so that was that right? They were staring at me weirdly when I passed but then it’s a little strange I guess to be a guy at the seminary at night…
So, I get to the chapel and get my pray on. It’s a shrine covering the tomb of a 20th century Catholic bishop of Japan, so I like to go there to pray and ponder my future in Japan. As I’m praying, I get a vague sense of “in the future, things will be difficult at times, so be ready.” That’s interesting I think, and start heading down the hill. Oh, the tombs in a hill and surrounded 3/4 by some shrubbery… more like tree-ery, but yeah whatever.
I’m walking down the hill onto a field when I see a cop on a motorcycle with his flashlight sweeping the area. For some stupid reason I decide to approach him. He sees me and I say “how can I help you officer?”
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Cop “What are you doing here?”
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Me “I came here to pray on my way back home.”
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Cop (on radio) “Seeking affirmation, target is a young white male wearing a black winter coat?”
-Me (thinking) “…I’m a young white male wearing a black winter coat… awww shit.”
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Cop “What were you doing in the bushes?”
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Me “I was walking through them on the way here.”
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Cop “You weren’t doing anything suspicious in the bushes?”
-Me “No.” I say, putting my hands into my pockets.
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Cop “Take your hands out of your pockets. Do you have any weapons on you?” As his partner then proceeds to frisk me. Lovely.
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Cop “ID please.” (Checks Id and sees its from Florida)
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Cop “Why do you have a Florida ID?”
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Me “I took a year off school. I’m a BC senior. I live at 1949 Commonwealth Ave.” The cop gets on his radio and verifies all that.
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Cop “So two girls called us and said you were walking in the bushes, came out, and then went back into the bushes. Are you sure you weren’t doing anything there?”
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Me "Yes. I was walking through them on the way to pray at the shrine up that hill. It’s covered by trees so you can’t really see it from here.
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Cop “Isn’t it a little cold to be praying outside?”
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Me “I was in the mood after mass.”
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Cop “Where?”
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Me “St. Ignatius 9PM mass.”
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Cop “I know they have a 5PM mass but not a 9PM”
-Me “Well I’m sure they have one at 9PM too. You can check the sign out front.”
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Cop “You look kinda nervous.”
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Me “I get nervous when I’m approached by cops in fields.” The cop confers with his partner for a while.
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Cop "OK we’re gonna let you go, but you’re in our system now. Stay in well-lit areas and on main roads. If you do this again, you have a problem. "
I walk through the field then stop, and the cop says ‘take the road.’ I mutter a quick ‘thanks. goodnight officers.’ and head home finally. So yeah… W. T. F. That was freaking surreal. It’s not that I’m angry, as the cops were just doing their job, but they didn’t have to be such smarmy dicks. As for the girls, it’s not like I jumped out of the bushes at them. I was friendly and smiling, not menacing in the slightest.
Does this look like the face of a sexual predator to you? (I’m clean shaven now too btw).
I’m too tired to talk about it any more than I already have, but dont worry I’m fine… just tired from the stress and adrenaline rush.