I Ran In to Work FRIDAY AND...!?

So Yesterday, 9/22/17.

Orange Line Subway got to AT&T Station a LITTLE LATE.

Late enough FOR THE SHUTTLEBUS TO LEAVE which meant WALKING.

Now?

We pulled into the station at 8:46am EST.

-_-

And I was like, whelp!?

MISSED THE SHUTTLEBUS, SHIT!

I wasn't trying to be late, SO!?

I ran up the steps and then just STARTED RUNNING INTO THE NAVAL YARD AND ACROSS IT!

Now!?

I'm running past people jogging at FDR Park and inside the Naval Yard.

I got My Backpack on with a LITERAL BOX OF COLD PIZZA AND A GIANT SKETCHPAD INSIDE OF IT!

Normally it takes 30 to 25 minutes to make it RUNNING!

TO WHERE I AM STATIONED AT FROM THE SUBWAY STATION!

I RAN IT ANYWAY!

With the backpack and the shit IN IT including My Sweatjacket, which I keep as a precaution because the weather is fucked up lately.

I have a FIVE MINUTE AFTER GRACE PERIOD SO I FIGURED IF I REALLY HAULED ASS I COULD ESSENTIALLY SHAVE THAT LAST 5-MINUTES OFF THE 25 MINUTE RUN TIME AND REACH POST WITHIN TIME TO CLOCK IN!

I REACHED THE GUARD-SHACK I MAKE IT ON TIME!

 WOO-WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

SO I'M FEELIN FUCKIN GREAT!!!!!!

I OUTRAN PEOPLE WHO WERE HONESTLY IN SHAPE!!!!!!

AND I'M LOVIN THE FACT THAT I COULD PULL IT THE FUCK OFF!

AND THEN YOU KNOW WHAT DAWNED ON ME PEOPLE!?!?!?

Do You know.

What dawned on Me....

Do You Know.

What dawned on Me, Stacey...?

All of My Great Feelings and Excitement.

Went out the window.

Then?

I realized I NEEDED TO SEE.

What OTHER PEOPLE HAD TO SAY.

So?

I collect Myself.

I go in to the Break Room.

James is there and Melvin walks in.

I then LET THEM KNOW WHAT I'D DONE.

And do You Know....

What They BOTH.

Said...?

They did EVENTUALLY congratulate Me on being able to pull off what I'd pulled off, but...?

The first thing they BOTH SAID IS EXACTLY WHAT I'D REALIZED WHEN I REACHED THE GUARD-SHACK....

"You were lucky that You were not shot while You were running to get here. You were running with a bookbag or backpack. Middle-aged Blackman, running faster than the Whites who're jogging and running around on the base and in the park. You know You could have been killed just now, right...."

And They were right.

They were right....

And understand something.

People EXPECT.

Black Americans to have a sane.

And STABLE.

Psyche.

With THIS KIND OF REALITY always around Us.