the heel press

  The police station was filled with officers, victims and criminals.  The blending in of every sound was  deafening coming from all around the building.  Sam was now a detective and worked in homicide, all those
years on foot patrol had paved the way for his present position.

He was one man that had seen it all and regretted none of it.  He still believed in protecting, he just was not sure of who needed more protecting,  people in the community or himself.     He had seen all kinds come and go in this building liars, cheats, and straight up ingrates. 

But none of that had preparded him for today.  She was considered by society to be old useless and undesirable to the eyes.  Her walk was slow and aided by her wiggly time beaten walker.  By the time she made it to the front desk she was out of breath and looked as if she were going to pass out. 

She grabbed her chest and let out a big sigh, she smiled a old toothed smile and handed a small thick weather beaten book to the front desk clerk.     The clerk gasped at the sight of the book and the lady reluctantly taking the book from her shaky wrinkled  hands.  He ran to the back and looked for a detective, any one would do.

 He hadn't even opened the book, but he wanted to give her over to someone else.  And there he was, good old Sam reading a book, well the clerk thought he could read this book.  So he interrupted him explained the book and its owner.  He watched Sam for a response then returned to the front counter and let the little old lady know Sam had her book.

Sam wasn't sure what to think of the book or for the most part the clerk that has brought him the book.  He  waited for almost thirty minutes before he went out to greet the little old lady.  He searched the  length of the room almost missing her, she nearly blended in with the old decor of the police station.  She waited for Sam to approach her, she stood on trembling legs and shook hands with Sam.

She introduced herself to him and told him what the nature of her business was.  Her name was Mrs. Dearie Mae Porter and she wanted to report a crime.  Sam almost took it comical, after all in his mind how many little
old ladies barely able to walk came to a police station to report a crime.

 He wondered what the worn book had  to do with anything.  She must have read his thoughts, she glared in to his eyes and told him it would all make sense once she got a chance to talk to him alone.  Still unsure of the point he walked her to a small room closed the door and sat across from her.  He tapped the book annoying her, she slid the book from under him and opened it.

She cleared her throat and begin to read the crackling in her voice caused great pain to Sam, he wanted to  stop her from going on any further.  She caught his glare she could tell he was annoyed, but it didn't matter she wasn't there for him. 

She politely asked him to bring her some water, or tea and lemon it always cleared her voice she said working up a wrinkled smile.  Both aggravated and wanting to vent he made his way out of the small room in search of one of the two drinks.

He ran into Cynthia another homicide Detective waiting for a case to work on.  He told her about the little old lady and the worn out book.  Told her why he was walking back to the room with a tray.  With a large pitcher of water and a large pot of hot tea, a glass with ice and a mug for tea, oh and the slices of lemon.

Cynthia decided to join him, it was slow and she wanted to take a look at this mysterious little old lady for herself.   She knew that Sam had a way of stretching minor conversation, so she needed to see her.  Mrs. Dearie Mae Porter introduced herself to Cynthia and sipped on her hot tea with lemon.  She seemed to pay no attention to the two detectives as they spoke in whispers about her. 

She finished the tea and a portion of the water and picked the book back up and began to read from where she had left off.  She didn't wait for them to stop  talking, hell she made them stop.  Dearie was right the lemon and tea healed her crackling voice allowing her to go on with out annoying the detectives.