The Opener: Chapter 5
The Opener: Chapter 5
The trip was short but the plastic seats in the back were oddly comfortable. It reminded me of
my temporary sleeping quarters on the sidewalks and alleys. Hard, lumpy and cold would be a good way
to describe those places. I’d become used to them, finding them more of a home. A soft bed at this
moment would feel foreign and frighten me. At least this way, things wouldn’t change from one place
to the next. The can opener and I found solice in this comfort of uncomfort.
While the two officers brushed the topic of lunch, I looked at all the cars we passed. I was
tempted to call ‘slug bug’ every time we drove past a Volkswagen. Their odd shape reminded me of a
fine tuned bug, flaunting their round shape to all the other Sentra’s, Camrys and those annoying box
cars of Sion. They’d never ever have that shape.
“Slug Bug!” I exclaimed in joy, unable to contain myself any further. I had run across five
already! I shouldn’t be kept out of the game, even if I was a neanderthal.
Officer Traveston jumped, stepping on the gas quickly before he realized how quick the car was
excelerating. It took him a moment to grasp his own surprise. He removed his foot off the accelerator,
placing it on the break gently. There was no use in throwing everyone in the car forward for his own
stupidity.
“Look out!” Officer Winston exclaimed as she pointed to the vehicles ahead of them. All the
break lights were bright red, flashing their warning to stop and decease any further motion.
Grabbing onto the cold metal link barrier in front of me, I braced myself for an accident. This
was probably going to hurt. As I watched in front of me, awaiting to hear the sound of the tin can
vehicles condensing into one another at a rate of their dislike, I could hear my heart rate increase.
Thoughts of my family raced through my head. I really missed them! They were the reason I’d
gone to prison in the first place. The option for me to flee and let my family face the harsh critisms was
too much for me to bear. Even then, I couldn’t see my little sister, cousin and parents suffering for the
blind eye that society held for justice. Society wanted a criminal, not an excuse for embarrassment.
The car came to a screeching halt, sending my head into the metal barrier then back into the
plastic seat.
“You and your damn slug bug!” Officer Traveston exclaimed in frustration. From the sound of his
voice, he was still gathering his nerves for a hint of composure.
I couldn’t respond. I had no real reason to explain why I did what I did. Even if I had a reason, he
wouldn’t have believed it. “I’m sorry.” I managed out, steadying myself from the sudden commotion.
Everything was still moving.
Officer Winston burst into laughter, pointing at her partner as tears streamed down her face. “If
that isn’t a hard punch in the arm then I don’t know what is.”
Officer Traveston wasn’t amused at her amusement. “How can you find this comical?! We
nearly wrecked the police cruiser!” He looked like he would have continued were it not for his partner
interrupting.
“Even I noticed the slug bugs. Your wife is right. You can never take a joke.” Officer Winston
mused. She was completely oblivious to the near accident. “I owe this fellow ‘neandrathal’ lunch.”
“What?!” Officer Traveston’s veins nearly popped out of his head. “I thought you were treating
me out for lunch today. Why are you treating the ‘neandrathal’ to lunch when he nearly wrecked the
cruiser?”
Officer Winston laughed louder. “And here you say women can’t drive! You nearly wrecked the
car! He’s still in the backseat if you’ve not noticed.”
Even with the annoying migraine that came with hitting the metal barrier, I found myself sharing
the laughter with Officer Winston.
Officer Winston looked my way. Her eyes looked curious. “Are you sure your name is Richard
Tandom?”
“I presume my name is Richard Tandom. That’s what my ID says.” I told her calmly. She
was actually being cordial. It was the least I could do.
I looked Officer Travestons way, finding it hard to miss his cold glare. Richard Tandom was now
the new enemy of Officer Traveston.
“Alright Mr. Tandom, it’s time for lunch. Let’s go to our favorite place. God speed!” Officer
Winston said in an excited tone. “I’ll treat you next time.” She told her partner. “We’ve got a guest today
so be good.”
Officer Traveston grumbled, not liking this one bit but he obeyed. It was lunch time and he was
hungry.
~ ~ ~
When the police cruiser stopped, I started to get out carefully. The glare I was getting from
Officer Traveston could prove dangerous at this point. I didn’t want him trying anything, even if I found
it a bit out of turn.
All went well until I dropped my bag on the sidewalk. No other reminder went through my head
but for the concern for my can opener! My poor can opener! I wouldn’t let it be homeless again!
Frantically I searched for it but it was nowhere to be found. I had to fight the panic that was about to
overtake me.
Officer Winston looked over at me curious. “What’s wrong?”
“My can opener is missing.” I told her, trying to stay calm. “I can’t abandon my friend.” As much
as I tried to stay calm, the panic was starting to creep into my voice.
Officer Traveston smirked. “You being friends with a can opener?! It’s not even alive!”
“Don’t mock him.” Officer Winston scolded her partner. “Help us look for it. The longer it takes,
the longer your belly is going to remain empty.” It was more of a threat than a reminder.
Grumbling further, Officer Traveston bent down in vain to look for the can opener. He would
have only watched if it weren’t for his partner making him help. How dare she!
“Is this it?” Officer Winston asked me, holding up a partially rusted can opener. She looked it
over, surprised how used and dangerous this can opener really was.
“Yes.” I told her in a higher voice than I would rather have not used. All this excitement of seeing
my friend brought that childish part out. “Thank you for finding my friend. Together we are never
alone.” I brought the can opener close to me, embracing it in a hug. I couldn’t help but smile. We were
together once more. That was close.
Officer Traveston and Officer Winston looked at one another concerned. An inanimate object
was his friend?
“We travel together.” I continued, putting it back safely in my makeshift bag. “We’ll find our
destination together.”
“You seem of sound mind.” Officer Winston told me as she looked at me. “Let’s get you
something to eat. Perhaps after that, we can get you some permanent shelter. Do you have a family?”
“Don’t get involved.” Officer Traveston warned her. “He’s just a neanderthal.”
“You shush.” Officer Winston told her partner. “You eat enough for a dozen transients as it is.
Don’t get greedy. Whatever happened to your human compassion?”
“My family don’t want me anymore.” I blurted out unintentionally. “Nobody really welcomes ex-
convicts from prison. Besides, my family is better off without me. They’re safer.” This was all I was going
to tell them. I’d already told too much and now I would probably get swarmed with a lot of questions.
“Well said then.” Officer Winston wasn’t shaken by my partial confession. “Let’s have lunch.
We’ll have more time to get to know you, Mr. Tandom. Perhaps, there’s a home for you yet.” She looked
to Officer Traveston. “Even Mr. Dough-boy wants everyone to have a home.”
“No I don’t.” Officer Traveston mumbled inaudibly.
He really didn’t seem to like me. Perhaps I was too level headed and clean. In some minds, that
wasn’t how a bum was supposed to be. In fact, perhaps he was starting to realize that I seemed
harmless.
“Whatever you want to eat, it’s on me.” Officer Winston told me with sincerity. “Come. I
promised it earlier and I don’t go back on my promises. I’ll even treat you, Mr. Dough-boy.”
This news brought a smile to Officer Travestons face. She was going to treat him to lunch after
all. “In that case, I’ll take it. A meal we will go.”
“It’s a meal we’ll eat.” Officer Winston corrected him with a smile. “The foods awaiting!”
The trip was short but the plastic seats in the back were oddly comfortable. It reminded me of
my temporary sleeping quarters on the sidewalks and alleys. Hard, lumpy and cold would be a good way
to describe those places. I’d become used to them, finding them more of a home. A soft bed at this
moment would feel foreign and frighten me. At least this way, things wouldn’t change from one place
to the next. The can opener and I found solice in this comfort of uncomfort.
While the two officers brushed the topic of lunch, I looked at all the cars we passed. I was
tempted to call ‘slug bug’ every time we drove past a Volkswagen. Their odd shape reminded me of a
fine tuned bug, flaunting their round shape to all the other Sentra’s, Camrys and those annoying box
cars of Sion. They’d never ever have that shape.
“Slug Bug!” I exclaimed in joy, unable to contain myself any further. I had run across five
already! I shouldn’t be kept out of the game, even if I was a neanderthal.
Officer Traveston jumped, stepping on the gas quickly before he realized how quick the car was
excelerating. It took him a moment to grasp his own surprise. He removed his foot off the accelerator,
placing it on the break gently. There was no use in throwing everyone in the car forward for his own
stupidity.
“Look out!” Officer Winston exclaimed as she pointed to the vehicles ahead of them. All the
break lights were bright red, flashing their warning to stop and decease any further motion.
Grabbing onto the cold metal link barrier in front of me, I braced myself for an accident. This
was probably going to hurt. As I watched in front of me, awaiting to hear the sound of the tin can
vehicles condensing into one another at a rate of their dislike, I could hear my heart rate increase.
Thoughts of my family raced through my head. I really missed them! They were the reason I’d
gone to prison in the first place. The option for me to flee and let my family face the harsh critisms was
too much for me to bear. Even then, I couldn’t see my little sister, cousin and parents suffering for the
blind eye that society held for justice. Society wanted a criminal, not an excuse for embarrassment.
The car came to a screeching halt, sending my head into the metal barrier then back into the
plastic seat.
“You and your damn slug bug!” Officer Traveston exclaimed in frustration. From the sound of his
voice, he was still gathering his nerves for a hint of composure.
I couldn’t respond. I had no real reason to explain why I did what I did. Even if I had a reason, he
wouldn’t have believed it. “I’m sorry.” I managed out, steadying myself from the sudden commotion.
Everything was still moving.
Officer Winston burst into laughter, pointing at her partner as tears streamed down her face. “If
that isn’t a hard punch in the arm then I don’t know what is.”
Officer Traveston wasn’t amused at her amusement. “How can you find this comical?! We
nearly wrecked the police cruiser!” He looked like he would have continued were it not for his partner
interrupting.
“Even I noticed the slug bugs. Your wife is right. You can never take a joke.” Officer Winston
mused. She was completely oblivious to the near accident. “I owe this fellow ‘neandrathal’ lunch.”
“What?!” Officer Traveston’s veins nearly popped out of his head. “I thought you were treating
me out for lunch today. Why are you treating the ‘neandrathal’ to lunch when he nearly wrecked the
cruiser?”
Officer Winston laughed louder. “And here you say women can’t drive! You nearly wrecked the
car! He’s still in the backseat if you’ve not noticed.”
Even with the annoying migraine that came with hitting the metal barrier, I found myself sharing
the laughter with Officer Winston.
Officer Winston looked my way. Her eyes looked curious. “Are you sure your name is Richard
Tandom?”
“I presume my name is Richard Tandom. That’s what my ID says.” I told her calmly. She
was actually being cordial. It was the least I could do.
I looked Officer Travestons way, finding it hard to miss his cold glare. Richard Tandom was now
the new enemy of Officer Traveston.
“Alright Mr. Tandom, it’s time for lunch. Let’s go to our favorite place. God speed!” Officer
Winston said in an excited tone. “I’ll treat you next time.” She told her partner. “We’ve got a guest today
so be good.”
Officer Traveston grumbled, not liking this one bit but he obeyed. It was lunch time and he was
hungry.
~ ~ ~
When the police cruiser stopped, I started to get out carefully. The glare I was getting from
Officer Traveston could prove dangerous at this point. I didn’t want him trying anything, even if I found
it a bit out of turn.
All went well until I dropped my bag on the sidewalk. No other reminder went through my head
but for the concern for my can opener! My poor can opener! I wouldn’t let it be homeless again!
Frantically I searched for it but it was nowhere to be found. I had to fight the panic that was about to
overtake me.
Officer Winston looked over at me curious. “What’s wrong?”
“My can opener is missing.” I told her, trying to stay calm. “I can’t abandon my friend.” As much
as I tried to stay calm, the panic was starting to creep into my voice.
Officer Traveston smirked. “You being friends with a can opener?! It’s not even alive!”
“Don’t mock him.” Officer Winston scolded her partner. “Help us look for it. The longer it takes,
the longer your belly is going to remain empty.” It was more of a threat than a reminder.
Grumbling further, Officer Traveston bent down in vain to look for the can opener. He would
have only watched if it weren’t for his partner making him help. How dare she!
“Is this it?” Officer Winston asked me, holding up a partially rusted can opener. She looked it
over, surprised how used and dangerous this can opener really was.
“Yes.” I told her in a higher voice than I would rather have not used. All this excitement of seeing
my friend brought that childish part out. “Thank you for finding my friend. Together we are never
alone.” I brought the can opener close to me, embracing it in a hug. I couldn’t help but smile. We were
together once more. That was close.
Officer Traveston and Officer Winston looked at one another concerned. An inanimate object
was his friend?
“We travel together.” I continued, putting it back safely in my makeshift bag. “We’ll find our
destination together.”
“You seem of sound mind.” Officer Winston told me as she looked at me. “Let’s get you
something to eat. Perhaps after that, we can get you some permanent shelter. Do you have a family?”
“Don’t get involved.” Officer Traveston warned her. “He’s just a neanderthal.”
“You shush.” Officer Winston told her partner. “You eat enough for a dozen transients as it is.
Don’t get greedy. Whatever happened to your human compassion?”
“My family don’t want me anymore.” I blurted out unintentionally. “Nobody really welcomes ex-
convicts from prison. Besides, my family is better off without me. They’re safer.” This was all I was going
to tell them. I’d already told too much and now I would probably get swarmed with a lot of questions.
“Well said then.” Officer Winston wasn’t shaken by my partial confession. “Let’s have lunch.
We’ll have more time to get to know you, Mr. Tandom. Perhaps, there’s a home for you yet.” She looked
to Officer Traveston. “Even Mr. Dough-boy wants everyone to have a home.”
“No I don’t.” Officer Traveston mumbled inaudibly.
He really didn’t seem to like me. Perhaps I was too level headed and clean. In some minds, that
wasn’t how a bum was supposed to be. In fact, perhaps he was starting to realize that I seemed
harmless.
“Whatever you want to eat, it’s on me.” Officer Winston told me with sincerity. “Come. I
promised it earlier and I don’t go back on my promises. I’ll even treat you, Mr. Dough-boy.”
This news brought a smile to Officer Travestons face. She was going to treat him to lunch after
all. “In that case, I’ll take it. A meal we will go.”
“It’s a meal we’ll eat.” Officer Winston corrected him with a smile. “The foods awaiting!”