oh, ain't that america
��������� �����once upon a time i was driving home from connecticut to maine, coming back to school. i was approaching the sturbridge tolls, a 40 MPH zone. me, foolishly driving 70, listening to a very fast-paced song, is suddenly pulled over by a heretofore-unseen cop.he leans in the window. "have any idea how fast you were going?"
"no sir. i wasn't paying attention."
"hmm." he stops for a minute. "so where're you going?"
"maine."
"why maine?"
"i'm headed back to school."
"where?"
"university of southern maine."
"ah. what year are you?"
"sophomore."
"so you can read."
he takes my licence & registration, goes back to his car. sits there for some time. comes back. doesn't hand me anything yet.
"what's your major?"
"theater."
"computer?"
"no, theater."
"ah ... you got a lot of anti-war protests up there?"
mentally, i stop. ".. uh, yes. we do."
"what do you think about all that?"
"well, they have a right to protest ..." i cautiously use "they" to signify that i'm not a part of said protesting. although i did light a candle for peace, and left when they started burning small representations of the american flag ...
"what do you think about the war?"
"well, sir, i'm for the troops, but against the war."
"that's right. kids your age over there, dying for their country."
"yes, sir."
"aha." he pauses. "right answer. i'm just gonna give you a warning. no action. but pay attention from now on, all right?"
"yes, sir. thank you."
he goes back to his car, i pull out, go through the toll.
happening to glance over at the shoulder of the road, i spy a miniature dust-devil and immediately think of sandstorms.