From: s9000938@cumulus.csd.unsw.OZ.AU (Doormat)
Subject: A safe place
Followup-To: alt.callahans 
Organization: University of New South Wales
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 14:17:48 GMT


The door opens.

A man enters.

He is slightly over 6 feet tall. His receding hairline is offset by
a beard which he appears to have lost control over.

He is dressed entirely in black, black jeans, black t-shirt and a
black leather jacket (with a tear under the right arm pit). The only
thing which isn't black is his footwear - a pair of disreputable 
reeboks which are almost black. In his hand is a full face motor cycle
helmet (black). Within the helmet is a copy of "Time enough for Love" by
Robert Heinlein which has clearly suffered a great deal of wear.

He approaches the bar, and as if he was a regular he places a worn 
dollar note on the bar and requests of Mike a beer, which he drink
with relish (clearly he is fond of beer - his belly is a dead give-a-way).

Turning he proceeds to the chalk line, and looking mournfully at his 
empty glass he toasts "Here's to finding a safe place!" and lobs the 
glass into the fire place just hard enough to ensure it breaks.

Turning to face everyone he continues:

A few months ago I had reason to travel to California, mostly for
business. On the way to my destination I stopped overnight in Anaheim, 
just a stones throw from "The Happiest Place on Earth". (for those who
aren't Americans, or don't know - Anaheim is famous as the location of 
Disneyland)

The next day I proceeded to Carlsbad and as funds were low I was forced
to use the Greyhound rather than rent a bike (mind you - I don't know if
I'd want to ride on the wrong side of the road! <grin>).

Admittedly this was only a week or so after the LA riots, and so maybe
things were extra tense then - but people, let me tell you honestly, the 8
days I spent in the US were the unhappiest of my life. Nothing bad happened
per se, but for the first time in my life I wished that I weren't in the
slightest bit empathic.

Everyone was tense. Everyone was watching everyone else out of the corner
of their eye. I didn't see anyone who I could honestly call happy. 

Now don't get me wrong - I am NOT slagging off the United States. Certainly
Australia is not paradise - but soon, sometime in the next couple of months
I have to go back to Carlsbad (more business) - and I am NOT looking forward
to it. I've been all over Australia - and once I had to flee for my life
(its the only thing to do when a pub full of drunken cocky's decide to kick
the shit out of you) - but I've never felt less safe that when I was locked
in that motel room in Anaheim.

In truth - the only thing which will make it bearable is the fact that I'll
be 8000 miles closer to Callahans, which is the only place I know if in
America where I can feel safe..

My name is Wayne, but I answer to doormat.

With that the man purchased a pitcher of beer, retired to a corner, placed 
his book on the bar and looked happy to be there.


--

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: Jacqui Quenell  s9000938@cumulus.csd.unsw.OZ.AU    Dept of Bio Tech :
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Newsgroups: alt.callahans