Mangy little punk
The Troubles. To hordes of Irish its a time of unease to say the very least, a term none of them really like but had to accept it dubed by journalists. With so much effort towards ending the conflicts and touting a bright future attracting tourism, a growing economy and stronger infrastructure I thought it a fascinating exciting time to live in the city. I still feel that, the people are warm and accepting towards foreigners and posess a wonderful exuberance for life and experience, I look forward to spending a year here, yet somehow after only a month of settling in I'm discovering the inner workings, feel the pulse just under the skin beating wariness. I don't pressume to understand the happenings here or how the people must feel, but Ido know what has befallen me and my early impressions.
Walking alone on two seperate occasions I passed emergency vehicles descending upon I know not what, the first time I walked by the scene unable to discern the cause for alarm, nobody injured or in distress, no sign of accident or malpractice. As I continued my stroll a mother and daughter approached me, 'Did you see what happened up there?' the young girl asked. Nothing out of the ordinary, the scene was visible, the irrisistable draw to carnage we all feel driving by a highway accident was in effect. Didn't really think much of it until on a seperate evening three boys playing football on the street around 7pm asked me about distant sirens and if I'd seen what they were about. It's not often people ask random passers by about sirens in the foreground which have absolutely no bearing on anything nearby.
These events in themselves are nothing really to be cautious of, but last nights events will have me more wary than I've ever felt the need before. Walking home from my weekly Spanish class around 9.30pm along my regular route I could see three boys well ahead of me amongst the houses; as I approached one not more than ten stepped towards the sidewalk, I noticed him holding what I took to be a fake gun, a natural assumption of one so young. Guns are heavy and not easily weilded by kids, as I walked passed he pointed it at me saying 'Give me all your money'.... could I really take him seriously? I continued on, saying nothing and glaring at him while I walked, he turned back to his friends and said 'Let's rob this man'! What the hell is this kid thinking? The "gun" was held so loosely in his hand I could've plied it free and threatened him right back, the pint size punk. I felt in no immediate danger, well light street was directly ahead of me with another person heading my direction, the kids ran up the side of the small ashphalt park I was cutting across realizing they had no opportunity to take thier stupidity any further, that was the end of that. In my 27 years of existence, having lived in Toronto, the border city of Windsor across from Detroit, Edinburgh and Bristol never have I had such an occurence, I ask is it mere coincidence it should happen in a city known for its wealth of armoury supposedly undergoing a complete disarmament? I would like to think yes, I never really felt threatened but after only a month it does make me more cautious and guarded.
Walking alone on two seperate occasions I passed emergency vehicles descending upon I know not what, the first time I walked by the scene unable to discern the cause for alarm, nobody injured or in distress, no sign of accident or malpractice. As I continued my stroll a mother and daughter approached me, 'Did you see what happened up there?' the young girl asked. Nothing out of the ordinary, the scene was visible, the irrisistable draw to carnage we all feel driving by a highway accident was in effect. Didn't really think much of it until on a seperate evening three boys playing football on the street around 7pm asked me about distant sirens and if I'd seen what they were about. It's not often people ask random passers by about sirens in the foreground which have absolutely no bearing on anything nearby.
These events in themselves are nothing really to be cautious of, but last nights events will have me more wary than I've ever felt the need before. Walking home from my weekly Spanish class around 9.30pm along my regular route I could see three boys well ahead of me amongst the houses; as I approached one not more than ten stepped towards the sidewalk, I noticed him holding what I took to be a fake gun, a natural assumption of one so young. Guns are heavy and not easily weilded by kids, as I walked passed he pointed it at me saying 'Give me all your money'.... could I really take him seriously? I continued on, saying nothing and glaring at him while I walked, he turned back to his friends and said 'Let's rob this man'! What the hell is this kid thinking? The "gun" was held so loosely in his hand I could've plied it free and threatened him right back, the pint size punk. I felt in no immediate danger, well light street was directly ahead of me with another person heading my direction, the kids ran up the side of the small ashphalt park I was cutting across realizing they had no opportunity to take thier stupidity any further, that was the end of that. In my 27 years of existence, having lived in Toronto, the border city of Windsor across from Detroit, Edinburgh and Bristol never have I had such an occurence, I ask is it mere coincidence it should happen in a city known for its wealth of armoury supposedly undergoing a complete disarmament? I would like to think yes, I never really felt threatened but after only a month it does make me more cautious and guarded.
posted by Jeffrey O'Brien @ 5:39 pm
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