Almost a Hero I had to go to my company's training center in Newark for a class today. I always get a little nervous when I go to Newark, partly because it's the car-jacking capital of the country, but mostly because cities in general just scare me.

After the class, I left the building and was headed back to the parking facility where I had parked my car. Out of nowhere, I see this gang of kids jump this guy wearing a long purple wig, a black lace dress, and high-heeled shoes. The kids punched the transvestite to the ground and gathered around kicking him.

I wanted to help, but I was afraid of getting beat up as well. I looked around for a cop. It's true what they say: you can never find one when you need one. I would have called 911, but like a fool, I left my cell phone at home.

I saw another man come walking around the corner. He sees the ongoing assult as well. I say to the man, "Do you have a cell phone? Call the cops!"

The man says, "I don't have a cell phone, man." I felt so helpless. The poor guy was getting the crap beat out of him. After another few seconds, the man who just came around the corner says, "I may not have a cell phone, but those punks don't know that."

Then he walked up to the gang of thugs and screamed, "I just called the cops on you! They'll be here any second! Beat it or go to jail! Your choice!"

Why hadn't I thought of that?

The kids stopped kicking the man and looked at each other with uncertainty. For a minute, I thought they were going to attack the man who just yelled at them. Then, as if reading each other's minds, they took off running down the street, leaving their victim lying on the sidewalk. He was battered and bleeding, but he was still conscious.

The guy who scared them off and I helped the beaten transvestite back to my company's building. We helped him onto a bench in the building's lobby and I told the security guard to call an ambulance.

I guess the guard called the cops as well, because they arrived in minutes. While we waited for the ambulance, one of the police officers questioned me and the other man, while another one took a statement from the transvestite. At one point, I noticed the transvestite pointing to the helpful bystander, saying, "..and that man told them that he called the cops, so they took off. I'd be dead if is wasn't for him!"

Then the transvestite raises his voice, points at me, and says, "And that damn fool just stood there with that dumb expression on his face and didn't do nothing!"

I couldn't wait to get back to the suburbs.
- Bernie  ¶ 7:06 PM