Post by Darren Marsh on Jan 19, 2021 14:59:54 GMT -6
There was just a tiny bit of light shining through the curtain and I've been trying to fix that small issue for months but no dice. I'll get to it eventually, or his father will, but that light shines through thanks to the Vegas sun around 12:30 in the afternoon until about 3. The light shines in right on his face and it disrupts his sleep schedule. He's an 8 year old boy named Jordan who needs his rest every day thanks to a heart condition that weakens and fatigues him. If that isn't killing him slowly every day, it's the leukemia but we try not to say that word aloud in this house. It's almost noon and the light will wake him up soon, and I'm needing to run some last second errands before tonight's .. thing..
I take his soft hand, he's so peaceful, so kind, I whisper to him that things will get better one day. I'm not entirely sure if it will, but I will always give him hope. I leave his warm bedroom and head downstairs where my wife is in the kitchen, always in the kitchen. Whether its their house or our house, my wife will always take advantage of a kitchen to cook. It might be her way of wanting to help too. Jordan's mom walks me out through the front door and thanks me. Always thanks me. She always walks me out too, despite her living next door to me for the last 20 years, she's always a graceful and walks me out. I asked her if her husband was at the store. She nodded, and so I decided I needed to head there.
I put my hat back on and walk to my squad Tahoe. It's seen better days. Hell, this city has seen better days. The last year has been eye opening and the last few weeks? Even worse. I've seen laws break down, I've seen buildings ran through, I've seen men and women that I respected turn their backs on a badge and a motto we uphold. I've seen some good people do some pretty bad things and it doesn't look like there's a positive end in sight. I'll make my way to Martin's store, he's the father of Jordan. My best friend, Martin means the world to me. He stands 6 foot 3 but you'd think he's 10 foot tall with the amount of shit he deals with on the daily. Being a black man in this country is one thing, but being a black man now in this lawless city? It's enough to make you kill yourself, and on top of it, he's dealing with what no man should ever deal with. A sick kid and a sad home. I can't have kids, never really wanted them anyway, I guess, but Jordan? Jordan is the best kid.
As I drive the 3 miles to his store he's owned for nearly 15 years, I take stock in the City that used to thrive, that used to light up before my eyes. Now it's dark, broody, the energy isn't the same anymore. As I pull up to Martin's corner store it doesn't surprise me that it's been broken into it once again. They're always cleaning up glass and restocking the shelves as best they can. I pull up but I'm still off-duty, and there isn't much I can do anyway. I'm the Chief of police but lately I feel like I'm just some target for someone to take shots at.
I want to talk to Martin, but he's busy. I don't even think he notices me in his parking lot. So much glass everywhere. This morning Martin opened a letter saying that Jordan's heart surgery next month isn't covered by insurance and it's going to cost roughly $40,000. I've taken every shift I could, I've worked double and triple overtime as it is.. Martin has been at his store 24 hours a day it feels like. He's let go of some of his employees to make money back, but now the store keeps getting robbed and it's one thing after another.
Radio: Chief Marsh you on call?
Ugh. This radio never stops.
Darren Marsh: Go ahead, copy.
Radio: We have a domestic disturbance on 1339 Sunset Drive.
Darren Marsh: I'm on it, copy.
- Marsh pulls out a folded up piece of paper out of his back pocket. A flyer for Black Pyramid Wrestling.
Anything for Jordan to get that heart surgery. Tonight is the .. thing..
- Marsh puts his vehicle into drive.
To protect and serve.
I take his soft hand, he's so peaceful, so kind, I whisper to him that things will get better one day. I'm not entirely sure if it will, but I will always give him hope. I leave his warm bedroom and head downstairs where my wife is in the kitchen, always in the kitchen. Whether its their house or our house, my wife will always take advantage of a kitchen to cook. It might be her way of wanting to help too. Jordan's mom walks me out through the front door and thanks me. Always thanks me. She always walks me out too, despite her living next door to me for the last 20 years, she's always a graceful and walks me out. I asked her if her husband was at the store. She nodded, and so I decided I needed to head there.
I put my hat back on and walk to my squad Tahoe. It's seen better days. Hell, this city has seen better days. The last year has been eye opening and the last few weeks? Even worse. I've seen laws break down, I've seen buildings ran through, I've seen men and women that I respected turn their backs on a badge and a motto we uphold. I've seen some good people do some pretty bad things and it doesn't look like there's a positive end in sight. I'll make my way to Martin's store, he's the father of Jordan. My best friend, Martin means the world to me. He stands 6 foot 3 but you'd think he's 10 foot tall with the amount of shit he deals with on the daily. Being a black man in this country is one thing, but being a black man now in this lawless city? It's enough to make you kill yourself, and on top of it, he's dealing with what no man should ever deal with. A sick kid and a sad home. I can't have kids, never really wanted them anyway, I guess, but Jordan? Jordan is the best kid.
As I drive the 3 miles to his store he's owned for nearly 15 years, I take stock in the City that used to thrive, that used to light up before my eyes. Now it's dark, broody, the energy isn't the same anymore. As I pull up to Martin's corner store it doesn't surprise me that it's been broken into it once again. They're always cleaning up glass and restocking the shelves as best they can. I pull up but I'm still off-duty, and there isn't much I can do anyway. I'm the Chief of police but lately I feel like I'm just some target for someone to take shots at.
I want to talk to Martin, but he's busy. I don't even think he notices me in his parking lot. So much glass everywhere. This morning Martin opened a letter saying that Jordan's heart surgery next month isn't covered by insurance and it's going to cost roughly $40,000. I've taken every shift I could, I've worked double and triple overtime as it is.. Martin has been at his store 24 hours a day it feels like. He's let go of some of his employees to make money back, but now the store keeps getting robbed and it's one thing after another.
Radio: Chief Marsh you on call?
Ugh. This radio never stops.
Darren Marsh: Go ahead, copy.
Radio: We have a domestic disturbance on 1339 Sunset Drive.
Darren Marsh: I'm on it, copy.
- Marsh pulls out a folded up piece of paper out of his back pocket. A flyer for Black Pyramid Wrestling.
Anything for Jordan to get that heart surgery. Tonight is the .. thing..
- Marsh puts his vehicle into drive.
To protect and serve.