A Mile in My Shoes

[Mattie Chappel]

“Well I’d like to think that there are at least two more people that care about them now. Wonder if there’s a way that they can find each other, a way that one of the shelters can keep better track.”

"Sad thing is, a lot of these people steer clear of the shelters by choice...they're afraid of having what little they own get stolen, of being assaulted, some don't want to listen to the preaching, some don't like the curfew, some don't want to adhere to the drinking rules..." She shrugged. "Just...you can offer the Moon to some people and they'll have a reason it doesn't work...but I guess you have to at least offer the Moon and let it be their choice."

There were all sorts of reasons people lived on the streets, and it was a strange culture that she didn't understand even after all these years.

"Hey, Angel, it's Mattie...Beryl said you were here."

There was a rustling inside and then a blonde emerged. She might have been pretty, but her life-style had already taken its toll, even though she wasn't even thirty yet...her skin was sallow, her eyes sunken with dark circles around them, her hair dull and ratty and her teeth jagged.

Still, the young woman offered a smile and crouched down to Koda's level, ruffling the dog's neck. "Hey, Koda." She looked up at Mattie and then to Kev. "Who's that? He some narc or something?"

"No," Mattie chuckled, "that's Kev, he's a civilian rider, keeping tabs on me, you know? We heard you might have been having some trouble?"

"Has Mrs. Big Nose been telling lies again?" Sighing, the girl shook her head. "She should leave well-enough alone. I'm fine."

"So...where did the bruises on your arms come from? They're new." Mattie didn't mention the track marks, those were a given, but the bruises were fresh, and clearly showed as finger-marks.

"Oh, that's nothing, I fell and someone caught me."

"Uh huh, and Koda is a cat." Mattie rolled her eyes as the dog whined.

"You see what I deal with," Angel addressed Kev, "put a uniform on them and they think they know everything." She rolled her eyes. "So, what do I tell her to get her to lay off?"

Kev Allison

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev listened to Mattie talk about the reasons people steered clear of the shelters, it was heart breaking to hear that the shelters weren’t the safe places that they needed to be at times. “Yeah, at least though it’s not personal even though it seems it I guess. Offer and the help might be taken, I guess if you offer ten people and one takes it that one makes up for a lot.” He said wondering if he could pin all his hopes on just one person being taken to a shelter to be taken care of. A place the sleep that was warm and maybe convince them that it wasnt all that bad.

The rustling gave way to a blonde as he glanced over her smiling as she called him a narc. Well he shouldn’t have thought he looked anything but that. The woman back before the bad luck he was sure would have been beautiful, the tale of a life told by her skin and eyes as he tried not to stare too much. Hearing the exchange Kev grinned, oh Mrs Sherwood knew a lot about a lot and had a good sense of what was going on even if it wasnt in a code he could understand yet.

Kev nodded, “Oh I can totally get what you mean but you know it’s not right for people to put hands on you you know.” Kev stated, “Mattie is a good cop, you can tell her whatever it is and it can try to be sorted out. I mean you know, keeping tabs on her is tough and it would make her look really good to her boss if you let her help you.” Kev said hoping that it might make a difference to the woman.

If she thought Mattie needed a good job done then it might sway her but Kev didnt have much practice with this side of things. “Trust us besides if you let Mattie help, I’ll get you a hot lunch, something for your place there too if you want?” Kev offered deciding if all else failed a meal and items of her choice, it might swing it their way too. Offer the moon he figured as he glanced to Mattie as he smiled.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"Can you get me a fix?" Angel smiled sweetly at Kev. "I'll even 'pay' for it."

"That's uncalled for," Mattie chided sharply, "he's only trying to help you, which is more than can be said for any of the men you keep around. And he's right, there's no reason to let anyone hit you or abuse you."

"Miss High-And-Mighty-Cop." Angel rolled her eyes. "Maybe I like it and maybe I get something for it?" Then she looked back at Kev. "Sorry. There's nothin' I need and I sure don't need your help....thank you for the offer." Her eyes actually did soften a bit, maybe a look of longing? But it was hidden behind dark layers of life.

Mattie sighed. "All right, but you know you can call whenever you need to...you just have to do it." Not likely unless something very bad happened, and then it might be too late. "Come on, I need to get on patrol." There was no animosity in her tone, just matter-of-fact.

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev stared at Angel, the sweet smile could almost have you fooled as he shook his head when Mattie took over. “Hey, Mattie is only trying to help you. A fix wont do anything like that and you know it.” Kev stated wondering just what it was that he could do to help her. Kev wasn’t out to save the world but one person or two was enough to make the world a little better.

“It’s okay and yeah no one needs help until they do. You’re a stronger person in accepting it you know, like Mattie said, call if you need it and we’ll help you.” He said trying to see past the layers of life the woman had been through already. It wasn’t that Kev wanted to make sure things did work out for her, he hadn’t any control over that but knowing she was okay and away from anyone who could hurt her.

He saw too many cases on his desk where there was something in it for them, they stayed because it was okay. Nothing about it was okay and he just hoped that they could get that. Kev glanced over at Mattie as he followed her, “Sure okay.” He said not really sure he wanted to leave there, he hadn’t expected any of today so far. In fact he wasnt really sure what he had expected that day at all but it wasnt this. It was tough and he hadn’t a clue how Mattie managed to deal with it.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"Sorry about that," Mattie commented as she closed Koda in the back, then hopped into the front seat. "It's a crappy situation, but you have to try, just so you can live with it." She shrugged as they drove away. "People like Angel...life takes a bad turn, or maybe it never had a good turn, and she's stuck. I mean, if you can't completely extricate them -- new home, new job, totally new life -- it's too easy to go back, and even then, she's never had a 'real' job, so her chances of holding one down are slim."

Sighing, she shook her head. "It's such a social dilemma. She might want to ask for help, but then she has to deal with the stigma of talking to the cops...and addictions she can never leave behind...it's no-win, and all you can do is offer."

There wasn't the time or energy to put into everyone, so you had to chose the ones to really fret over, the ones who weren't in so deeply they couldn't be helped, and you had to be able to shut out the rest.

"Maybe we need to go camping again..."

Kev Allison

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

“Hey no need to be sorry.” Kev said smiling as he followed Mattie and Koda to the car, hopping into the passenger side. “Yeah, I just feel bad leaving her there, I guess it has its own set of issues and I know you can’t save everyone but, I really don’t know how you do it.” Kev said with a sigh, not sure if he wanted to forget or to break his own heart trying to work something out for Angel when he knew the offer of help wouldnt got down too well. It hadn’t done just previous so why he expected any change in that who knew.

“Well if she wont talk to cops, I’d hoped she might have talked to me but I guess no one wants to talk to lawyers either.” He said smiling a little, “You never know i guess, she might turn a corner or just decide that the right time is now to make a change.” Kev was sure that everyone had it in them to make a change like that it was just finding out how to do it and trusting the right people.

“Yeah I think that is a great idea, want to just drive up there now?” Kev asked grinning, “Forget about the day so far?” He offered though he wasnt too sure how good her boss would be on it. “So is this a normal day for you so far or are you just showing me the good parts?” He asked grinning.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"Well, first off," Mattie answered with a chuckle, "even I wouldn't trust talking to a lawyer, and if a cop won't..." she shrugged, sticking her tongue out at him quickly. "And you got me! Yeah, I planned all this out so you can see what a delightful job this is...all we're missing is the donuts!"

Chuckling, she steered the car through the streets, her attention shifting from traffic to the pedestrians on the sidewalks, watching for anything out of the ordinary. Then the CAD screen started flashing and Mattie glanced at that.

"A person acting agitated and talking crazy at Gillman's Market," she read from the screen. "Let's go check it out."

The mom-and-pop place wasn't far and there was no need for lights and sirens. In a few minutes they had arrived and the owner came out to meet them.

"Officers." The older man nodded to the pair. "There's a lady in there, says she has...something, I don't know what she's going on about, something growing under her skin or something."

"All right." Mattie nodded, this was odd, but not really unusual. "Do you know her? Is she being aggressive at all?"

"She comes in sometimes, buys chips and things." The man shrugged. "She's not fighting or anything, she's just trying to get people to listen to her."

"Well, we can do that!" Sometimes, listening was all it took.

Nodding to Kev, she led the way inside with Koda beside her. They had only gone in a short way when a frazzled, dark-haired woman dashed up to them, focusing on Kev. "Look...look here!" She pointed to a freckle on her arm. "They planted corn there and it's growing! See, right there! It's going to have bugs! I need to get it out!"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

“You seriously wouldn’t trust talking to a lawyer... wow now I really know the way of the world.” Kev said laughing as he stuck his tongue back out at her. “I thought as much, I guess I’ll see Angel in the local coffee shop not doing her acting job but yeah I mean very realistic, hats off to the effort put in.” He added grinning, he knew it wasnt but then again he wanted to see the real job and not the polished shiny version of it and it was exactly what he got.

Talking crazy at a market, the day just kept on giving he thought as he nodded. Kev followed Mattie listening to the older man talk about a lady having something under her skin. Following Mattie again inside he wondered just what could be the issue as he saw the lady point to the freckle on her arm as she said it was corn. He had days like that too though going this far, yeah it was a new side to policing he was seeing.

“Hey, why dont you take a seat here and we can see what we can sort out for you?” Kev suggested trying to help out where he could, if listening was all the lady wanted then they could do some of that. It might not be the perfect solution but if it helped, sometimes all people needed was a friendly ear to talk off for a while. “What makes you think it’s corn growing?” He asked glancing at Mattie for a moment not entirely sure what he was doing but then again how bad could it get. In fact he didnt want that one answered for him.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

Mattie winced a little as the young woman looked intently at Kev -- she had found an audience who would pay attention to her, and Mattie knew that Kev was in for an interesting ride. The real positive to that was that it would give her time to rummage through the woman's backpack and hopefully find ID, to call an ambulance to transport her to the behavioral health center, and for her to write up the 5150 papers.

Although her eyes were dull, there was a bit of a mist as Kev started talking to the young woman. Leaning in, her voice low, she whispered, "I saw them...they thought I was asleep but I wasn't. They came around and planted kernels under our skin, and then the corn started to grow!"

She fluffled at plain old arm hair. "See, that's the silks, and...OH!" Reaching out, she grasped Kev's arm, indicating a small spot. "They got you, too!"

Kev Allison

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Seeing Mattie wince, Kev wondered what he had let himself in for. He wasnt able to just turn away he was usually grilling people so letting those talk that wanted to talk was easy to him. It just meant that instead of trying to trip people up usually they did that all on their own, it wasnt touch to do but then this woman seemed to have her fair share of issues.

Kev nodded listening to the woman wondering if she was talking in riddles about a real event in life or if she was just... well needed a whole bundle of help. He watched her fluff at her arm hair as he smiled and nodded to her. “Yeah they got me but see, it doesn’t hurt and they can’t hurt you with this. It’s just corn.” He said trying to convince her it was what it was.

“It’s not just you everyone has it and we’re all okay so you are too.” He said softly as he smiled at her, “It’s nothing to worry about, just pretend it isn’t there and no one will be bothered about it at all. The more you tell people and look at it, the more they know.” It was about as much as he knew how to say on the subject of corn in arms. Honestly if had known taking a ride with a police officer was this much fun. He wouldn’t have been sitting behind his desk for so long as he waited to hear what the woman would say about it.

Tag: Mattie Chappel
(Thanks for the reminder )

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"But..." the woman looked up at him with wide eyes, "it scratches so bad!" She started raking her nails over her arm until Mattie reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"That just makes it worse," she murmured to the young woman, glancing at Kev and giving him a quick nod. He was doing well for not being accustomed to dealing with this sort of thing -- the natives in their natural habitat!

"Oh...right..." The girl looked at Kev. "Don't let them know you know they're there, huh?"

"So," Mattie asked, "do you have your ID, can I get your name and date of birth?"

"Um...no...um, I'll tell him." She looked at Kev, scooting closer to him and whispering, "He knows...he has it too."

Mattie just hoped 'it' wasn't contagious!

Kev Allison

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

“Mattie’s right, don’t scratch it the more you scratch the more they know.” Kev said smiling as he nodded giving a bit of a glance up to the sky. He still had no clue though anything that that stopped her hurting herself was good by him. Even if he seemed now to have some sort of issue with a spot on his arm. Maybe wasnt about to look at his arm the same again.

“Yeah that’s right, the less they know the better.” Kev added smiling as he grinned at Mattie when the woman spoke. “Sure you can tell me all that information and I’ll tell Mattie okay.” He said listening to the woman. “So, name and date of birth would be great and that way I know they’re not listening to me so it’s safe.” He added not entirely sure the woman would believe a word he said.

So far he didn’t seem to be going too wrong even though he felt like he had just stepped into a tin foil episode of the Xfiles. Being a cop was starting to seem like a whole new world or at least a part of the world he wasn’t too well versed in existing in. He thought lawyers were bad on some days but far he couldn’t say his day had been dull at all. If anything it was getting more and more interesting as the day went on. Despite the possibility he was going to have to go and get some mark checked out to see if he was a little crazy too.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"Mattie’s right, don’t scratch it the more you scratch the more they know.”

"Oh...you're right!" The girl looked at him with renewed admiration as she stuck her hands in her pockets to keep them still. "I should have known that."

“Yeah that’s right, the less they know the better.” Kev added smiling as he grinned at Mattie when the woman spoke. “Sure you can tell me all that information and I’ll tell Mattie okay.”

Her nose wrinkled up as she looked at Kev, but then she finally nodded. After all, he knew about the scratching, and she trusted him. "All right."

“So, name and date of birth would be great and that way I know they’re not listening to me so it’s safe.”

"My name is Mary Magdalene," she murmured softly, leaning in so he could hear her, "and I was born on the fifth cycle of Saturn in Aquarius." Reaching out, she put her hand lightly on his wrist. "Kid Rock is going to come for me. He's my boyfriend and he wants me to sing with him."

As she worked on the papers to put the girl on a 72 hour hold, Mattie glanced at Kev and rolled her eyes, mouthing, 'Good luck'.

Kev Allison ,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Yes this woman was three sheets to the wind by the time Kev saw the admiration on her face as he smiled and nodded. “Easy mistake to make, but just remember don’t scratch and they can’t know a thing.” He said again not sure if it was a temporary thing or if it would actually help her stop scratching at her own skin. Kev nodded to her wanting to at least encourage her to talk, he hoped there would be some sense left there but then again he wasn’t overly sure of much these days as he waited to hear what she could say.

And then it happened, he tried not to chuckle or laugh as he listened hoping there was some way to get through to her even if she was born on the fifth cycle of Aquarius as he nodded. “Oh well Kid Rock is one very lucky guy but you know you shouldn’t hold out for him.” Kev said seriously or as seriously as he could take things right then. “You should branch out on your own and have your own show. I mean Kid Rock... he isn’t all that great but you, you could be a star.”

How much that would help he hadn’t a clue as he saw Mattie mouthing good luck. He mouthed back a thanks as he nodded to the woman. “See Mattie here, she knows some people that can show you how much of a superstar you are. She’s good with things like that.” Kev added wondering just how soon the woman could get the help she so clearly needed.

Tag: Kev Allison

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

“Oh well Kid Rock is one very lucky guy but you know you shouldn’t hold out for him.”

"Really?" The girl's eyes widened as she pondered it over. "I was wondering about that...That he wants me just to help his own career." Now, that made sense to the girl when she thought about it!

“You should branch out on your own and have your own show. I mean Kid Rock... he isn’t all that great but you, you could be a star.”

"Yeah...yeah, you're right." 'Mary' nodded slowly, processing the information. "But...how..?"

“See Mattie here, she knows some people that can show you how much of a superstar you are. She’s good with things like that.”

At that, Mattie rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at Kev's mastery at turning the tables. Still, she took the opportunity as 'center of attention' now to move over by Kev, diverting the girl's attention from the ambulance crew that was coming up the aisle with a gurney.

"So, yeah, Miss Magdalene, there's a place that can help you, but first you need to be checked by a doctor...just to make sure nothing there is going to harm you, right?"

"Um...sure..." The girl looked toward Kev, then back at Mattie. "I need that for my immune system, so it won't hurt my voice."

"That's right." Mattie nodded to the ambulance crew. "These nice people are going to take you there, okay?"

"Okay." Impulsively, the girl moved in and kissed Mattie on the cheek, then grasped Kev's wrist. "Go with me."

"He can go to the door with you," Mattie said, "but I need him to help me with others."

Mary seemed content with that, and settled on the gurney, letting one of the EMT's put on the seatbelts while the other spoke quietly with Mattie and took the forms that placed the woman on a 72 hour hold.

A couple minutes later they followed the crew out to the ambulance, and Mary finally let go of Kev as the gurney was loaded into the ambulance, which drove away a moment later.

"Nice job." Mattie looked at Kev with a grin. "Although I think in some cultures you're married now."

Kev Allison