Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Maxwell and Me



September 18, 2013

I didn’t necessarily mean to take a shower with Maxwell, it just happened. He was splashing around in the tub then, after shampooing, doused me with the excess water from his coat, so I got drenched. I suspect he is a Golden mixed with Samoyed but the AKC papers say he is a purebred. What do I know.

As I approach the door to the Baker Community Center, I realize I have long white fluff plastered to the back of my black stretch pants. Didn’t have time to go home and change after working at the kennels. I am late for the neighborhood gathering and can hear someone spouting off about gangs of black men tossing dice in the alley behind their house.

It appears we have to start communicating with our neighbors, making an effort to attend to the kids who run rampid, collect trash from the sides of the street, find out who is going out of town, and looking out for one another. One woman reported, in tears, that her daughter was ambushed by a group of boys a week ago, and the police nor anyone in the school district have yet to assist with the accost. She and her mother were understandably shaken, but relieved when the undercover cop approached them, to gather information, and make a report back at the station house.

Must have been at least thirty people in attendance, including the pastor of the church from around the corner and across the street. He announced the congregation will be able to step in, to help with the black youths who are getting into trouble. I will approach him with my idea of starting a survivor/perpetrator conflict resolution program and see what we can come up with for a plan.

Ran home with high hopes for the future of the West Side Neighborhood. Maybe no one noticed the long white hairs stuck to my pants, then again…

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