Ousted

Sunday night, empty parking lot at UCCS

I sat in the driver seat, squinting. It was 2 a.m. I had been asleep for two hours and fifteen minutes. I went to bed after watching a movie on my tablet.

The movie, Automata (2014), had filled my mind with Blade Runner style atmosphere of authority pursuing humanity to the far reaches of a dystopian world. When the police came knocking, half of my mind was still living in the movie.

The bust

'Keep your hands where I can see them'

Flashlights crossed their beams through my rear passenger window. I felt like the monster on an episode of The X-Files. The glass was fogged up from my breath, and together with the clutter of my nightstand added a dusty basement effect. I climbed to the helm of my discovered vessel.

While the policeman asked me questions, I peeled my jeans on. I had considered putting them on in the backseat, but I don't know if the police could hear me clearly and didn't want to alarm them by disregarding their instructions and rummaging around where they couldn't see what I was doing.

'What are you doing?'

"I was taking a rest."

'Rest? From what?'

"From traveling. I'm on a bigger journey from Virginia headed eventually to Oregon. I've been on the road for several weeks and I can't afford a motel room every night, so I rest in my car."

'So you're going to head out in the morning?'

I hesitate. My honest character prevents me from agreeing with his story.

"I haven't figured out where I'm going to go tomorrow. After I get some rest tonight I can sort it out in the morning. "

'What are you going to do tonight?'

"Well... I guess I ought to check into a motel... one across the street maybe. I need sleep."

He inquires again whether I will continue driving, out of town and off of his beat.

'And are you driving out in the morning?'

"I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow yet. My head isn't thinking straight right now. You've caught me at a loss ... I'm sorry, my brain is ..."

I start blubbering partial sounds that half-form words. It's a cold 31F with the window open. I'm shivering in a tee-shirt, staring off into my steering wheel

He sees I'm no violent threat, not someone dealing drugs nor planning armed robbery. He seems to be sympathetic to my story.

'I can believe we gave you a bit of a surprise there. But you know, we've got to look out for our own. You're on University property and being out here in the middle of the night is a tad suspicious.'

I think that was his guarded way of apologizing. He continues.

'If you want to stay here, I mean it's cold, but now that we know you're here we won't bother you again tonight.'

"Alright, thank you."

I take a pause to consider what he's saying.

"Yeah. I think I'll go to the backseat and go back to sleep. I'll drive in the morning."

The officer who spoke to me drove off, followed by his backup. Without a second thought, I threw my body over the driver seat into my nest of blankets and passed out.

Conclusion

I feel like the university police are younger, less experienced. Sure they're nice and likely to be lenient, but they are also the kind to snoop around asking more questions and looking into things that could lead to trouble for me.

From now on, I intend to stay away from university property after hours.