Juan, Jose, Javier and Anita rounded a corner in the Zocalo and sought warmth in a local bar. It being late November, each had little in common except their ASU sweatshirts and a chill in the high altitude night air of Mexico City.
Once inside, beside the dying embers of a glowing fire, a question was put to each: What brought you here?
Anita was selected to begin the questioning. Juan, began.
"Well, I was crossing a street in Tucson when the sign changed to "Don't Walk". I started to run when this cop stopped me, and asked me why I was not heeding the warning. I said that I was, whereupon he said, "No, you were running, your papers please." "After 6 months in the local slammer, here I am."
Jose spoke up next. "I was delivering furniture to these folks in Mesa, when the homeowner asked me to remove the mattress tag on a brand new Posturepedic. Next thing I knew, a squad car arrived, and I was sent to the Maricopa County jail for violation of some secret mattress code.""Six months later, here I am."
"That's a bummer, but you were both illegals", said Javier. "I, did nothing wrong"!
"Okay, then", Anita spoke up.
"Why are you here, Javier"?
"I returned a book to the local library and they told me it was two weeks overdue. I didn't have any money in my pocket for the petty fine so I was arrested for vagrancy. I don't normally carry money or ID when I ride my bicycle, but those idiot cops in Scottsdale locked me up anyway. And then they deported me! I was born in Phoenix, I'm a lawyer, and now my firm is working to get me home for Christmas. And then, look out!" "Anita, it's your turn."
"Well I'm not really sure what happened. I was late in my pregnancy when little Filipe was due. I returned this video tape to Crockbuster, and shortly after, gave birth to our son. (His Dad's in Iraq.)
"What was the video about", asked Javier. "How to care for a newborn," Anita replied. "Then I don't see what the problem is." "Neither did I, but there was a problem with the instructions on the VHS tape. The Arizona police said I didn't follow them, and for that they deported me."
"Okay, girl. I may not be able to help Jose or Juan, but maybe I can help you. What did they say?'
"I don't know sir, but I did everything I was instructed to do before and after the baby was born, but I was not going to "BE KIND, REWIND" his umbilical cord!
Normally, I'd let it go now, but into the bar strutted this veddy British uppie, with the letters BP clearly emblazoned on the back of his sweatshirt. "Were you too deported from the USA, Anita, queried"? "Not hardly, my dear. Those letters stand for BEYOND PROSECUTION!"
Ray
Once inside, beside the dying embers of a glowing fire, a question was put to each: What brought you here?
Anita was selected to begin the questioning. Juan, began.
"Well, I was crossing a street in Tucson when the sign changed to "Don't Walk". I started to run when this cop stopped me, and asked me why I was not heeding the warning. I said that I was, whereupon he said, "No, you were running, your papers please." "After 6 months in the local slammer, here I am."
Jose spoke up next. "I was delivering furniture to these folks in Mesa, when the homeowner asked me to remove the mattress tag on a brand new Posturepedic. Next thing I knew, a squad car arrived, and I was sent to the Maricopa County jail for violation of some secret mattress code.""Six months later, here I am."
"That's a bummer, but you were both illegals", said Javier. "I, did nothing wrong"!
"Okay, then", Anita spoke up.
"Why are you here, Javier"?
"I returned a book to the local library and they told me it was two weeks overdue. I didn't have any money in my pocket for the petty fine so I was arrested for vagrancy. I don't normally carry money or ID when I ride my bicycle, but those idiot cops in Scottsdale locked me up anyway. And then they deported me! I was born in Phoenix, I'm a lawyer, and now my firm is working to get me home for Christmas. And then, look out!" "Anita, it's your turn."
"Well I'm not really sure what happened. I was late in my pregnancy when little Filipe was due. I returned this video tape to Crockbuster, and shortly after, gave birth to our son. (His Dad's in Iraq.)
"What was the video about", asked Javier. "How to care for a newborn," Anita replied. "Then I don't see what the problem is." "Neither did I, but there was a problem with the instructions on the VHS tape. The Arizona police said I didn't follow them, and for that they deported me."
"Okay, girl. I may not be able to help Jose or Juan, but maybe I can help you. What did they say?'
"I don't know sir, but I did everything I was instructed to do before and after the baby was born, but I was not going to "BE KIND, REWIND" his umbilical cord!
Normally, I'd let it go now, but into the bar strutted this veddy British uppie, with the letters BP clearly emblazoned on the back of his sweatshirt. "Were you too deported from the USA, Anita, queried"? "Not hardly, my dear. Those letters stand for BEYOND PROSECUTION!"
Ray
