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156 Words
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During my years as a guard, I’d met all kinds of people, usually the scum of the earth. A time I was stationed in Cavan, I arrested an old man for urinating in a public place. Yeah, Cavan was high crime zone. Got him in the car and I did feel petty. He said,
“Son, the thing with friends is they aren’t ever, and I mean ever, allowed to make you feel bad. That’s the role of the rest of the world.”
I was young then, full of piss and wind, said in my Templemore tone,
“I’m not your friend.”
He gave a tired smile, said,
“Sure, guards have no friends.”
I forget his face but I remember his words. Was I angry with Cathy? Let me put it this way, I was going to have a hard job explaining to Mrs Bailey why I punched a hole in the bathroom wall. Didn’t break my knuckles but it was a close call.
- Writer
