He
found himself at the intersection. The voice, robotic, spoke:
"Red:No Crossing:STOP:Pedestrian:Red."
...over and over.
Then
he heard what he'd not heard before. Not here. In the midst of the metropolis
he found a sliver of silence…free of decibels, distraction, distortion,
devices, damnations and denials.
He
knew exactly what went wrong…the eyes… how it happened…what was left. But,
Today? No one crosses this street but you. How you got here doesn’t
count.
"
WALK:GREEN:NOW:
PEDESTRIAN..."
Please
proceed. Your responsibility. It's important you understand those words. Your.
Responsibility. Get your ass moving or get it rolled-over halfway.
What...?
Listen.
Stay tuned. You can't stop and ponder. Go! Walk the blind man's walk. Step off
and keep walking until you’re over. Then keep going after that. This is your
space and their shit to deal with, when you decide to take it.
Who
are you?
I
am your public servant.
Why
so harsh?
In
fact, I am one of the more civil servants.
That's
awful. You're just some dick, yanking my chain...
That's
not my style. I'm as straight as they come. I'm a fucking street post for
chrissakes.
Fucking
with a blind guy...
You
pushed the button...
How
do I know I can trust you?
If
I could walk you, I would, but I'm anchored to my job. I've been thinking about
the private sector...very few opportunities await.
You
expect me to believe...
Yes.
I do. I am part of the System, that You are going to have to learn to trust.
Designed
by who? Blind guys?
Engineers,
transit, and, yes, I'm sure the blind were involved.
You
know it's a lot harder than closing your eyes and pretending...a lot harder.
I
can imagine...
No,
you can't.
I'm
a post. I have a viewer, a transponder, and an "audiator" ...
What?
Voice
box...
You
have 'a viewer', I do not.
I
hold the fucking camera, like 400 others...we just hold...your shit. They
listen and watch in some central bunker...
You're
fucking with me.
You're
right. I wouldn't go out there if I were you. The light changed while I was
busy talking TO YOU!
Asshole.
I
suppose. It can be damn cruel out here.
Are
you real?
I
am to me. Okay go now.
I
hear cars. I feel the rumble. The swish...you're fucking with me. I am not
without senses...
That's
where you got me. I only have sensors. Which do you think are more attuned?
Fucker.
Man,
yesterday, wrapped his cane around me…so enraged. He was sorry he did. Gave him
no satisfaction whatsoever...plus the damage to his cane. I'm not proud.
What's
your real name?
Earl.
You?
Mike.
Pleased
to meet you, Earl. C'mon, this is me at your elbow.
Hey!
It's
green, I'll walk with you.
I
don't need...
Oh, I know, I just enjoy our talk. Now let's go before we
miss our light a third time. Do you mind?
No, I
don't mind.
You
should get a dog.
I
think I just got one.
