“THEY” Cripple Society Volume 2: Who are “THEY” and how do they do it? An Expose in True to Life Narrative Exploring Stories of Discrimination. Cleon E. Spencer
Читать онлайн книгу.
period.” Collin paused, then smiled, “Sounds familiar to some members of this group, eh!”
“Very familiar,” said Gilda Emerson, and the others agreed.
“But,” continued Collin, “Durwin didn’t want to enter into a debate about it on the phone at that time. Rather, to be sure, he went for the worst scenario, a nervous breakdown, received a satisfactory reply and thought that would be the end of that. He had no reason to think otherwise.
“Durwin then phoned the second number, for the city where he now would have to report. This time a man came on the line. Durwin explained to him the plans and circumstances of his pending move, including the information about his supposed nervous breakdowns, and that the last one was approximately ten years ago.”
“‘No problem,’ said the man in his obviously jolly, perhaps flamboyant manner. ‘Just get in your truck and come on down. Then report to the office here within ten days as you were previously told.’
“Durwin was almost convinced that everything was okay for his move. Still other peoples stories of difficulties with immigration in Terraprima came to his mind. He would try for one more assurance, he decided, by calling the same number on the week-end when likely there would be different persons on shift to give information. On the weekend Durwin phoned again, and a man answered the call. Not recognizing the voice, Durwin again outlined his plans and circumstances.
“The voice on the phone responded, ‘What you again?’ he said cheerfully, ‘come on down man. I told you earlier in the week you will have no problem. We are nice people down here, and we like you people of Secundaterra, you are just like us. Come on down and be at home.’
“This information officer had spoken in such a friendly reassuring way that all doubt left Durwin’s mind. He would not question the matter further. After thanking the person most warmly, Durwin came away from the phone feeling sure all would be well. He and Canda were delighted. They felt assured.
“There was one more assurance they were pleased with also. Some of Durwin’s colleagues in ministry who perhaps knew, from stories of others, more about the pitfalls of such a venture than did Durwin, took steps to protect his future in case he wanted or had to return to Secundaterra. They had his name placed in the record as on leave of absence from his present denomination, rather than removed and transferred to another denomination. Durwin was very grateful for this. Later, it would give him badly needed security as you will understand later in the story.
“There was opposition to this leave of absence status by belittlers of the Secundaterra church, but they weren’t in control and were overruled, to Durwin’s advantage. Later, however, when staff was changed, it left Durwin out on a risky limb in Terraprima, as I shall explain more fully later on in the story.
“Most people wished Durwin well on his new venture. One well meaning colleague, however, made a statement that Durwin didn’t understand at the time. Later, it would have much meaning for him. The colleague said to Durwin, ‘We don’t have any ministers from here go down to that denomination of Terraprima anymore. We have several who have gone there to other denominations and done well. I wish you well in your venture though,’ he said, shaking his head gently.
“On the pre-planned Tuesday morning the Lawtons set out, Durwin driving their large size rented truck, and Canda following behind in their car, having had the truck loaded by experienced movers the previous day. After going through immigration and customs at the border under the friendly, respectful and efficient facilitation of the supervisor, the Lawtons drove uneventfully along the highway to a new yet very different life than ever they had expected.
“Durwin had previously notified the people at his new church in Terraprima that he and Canda were aiming at arriving at the church at approximately six p.m. They came close to that, arriving at six-thirty p.m. There was a welcome reception for them for which they were a little late. The half hour delay was caused by a final gas-up and truck check which could have been eliminated had they known they were only twenty miles from their destination instead of the sixty they thought they still had to go.
“Perhaps an experienced bus driver who was very familiar with both the route and his vehicle could time it more closely. The Lawtons were familiar with the route, except for the last end of it, but had never driven it in a large truck before, which required extra gas stops, oil checks, etcetera. Even though they arrived within half an hour of their estimate, one of the church members had been complaining about the lateness and undermining the enthusiasm of others. This complainer would later turn out to be a chief belittler and troublemaker.
On arrival from another country with the truck, et al, and although a half hour late the attention of the twenty or so people present became focused on the new pastor and his wife. This was quite a natural thing, yet it was to the dismay of the complaining woman, who until now it seems had been the main focus of the group. In future, the Lawtons would see similar reactions to this on occasion. The cause of it was usually that when someone had done perhaps an exceptional job of some sort for the church, that person then felt qualified to be the main leader and decision maker in all things pertaining to the administering of the many and varied functions of the whole congregation. But expertise in one area of service, as good as it may be, and as much acclaim as they may receive for it, does not give a person license to be overbearing in all that goes on in a church. In time, rivalry for first place would set in - a rivalry in which neither Durwin nor Canda would intentionally participate. Overall though, the reception was a warm and joyful one.
“Within a few days the Lawtons, after receiving directions from a church member, set out in their car for the immigration office they were required to contact. The office was in the big city. They had driven in there a few times before, so it would pose no problem for them. They found the right building, paid the very expensive city parking rate, entered the building and proceeded to the required floor. It was early morning, around eight o’clock when they arrived, yet the line was already hundreds of people long. They were directed to get into the line and in turn would be taken care of by one of several officers at the long counter.
“It was after ten o’clock when they began to get anywhere near the counter. The lines between the cords going up and down the room moved slowly, but usually steadily. Ten employees worked the counter, each having an opening in the countertop metal rod barrier. In the background were two other women, who appeared to be supervisors floating around each to one-half of the area, overseeing the work of the others.
“As Durwin and Canda came down the line between the cords to near the lower end of the room, with still another up and down to go, the supervisor of that lower end caught site of them in the line. She quite noticeably bristled and looked harshly at the Lawtons for the longest time.
“‘Oh, Oh,’ whispered Canda to Durwin, in as unnoticeably a way as possible. ‘I think we are over dressed for here, or something. We may have trouble. Did you see the way that woman glared at us?’
“‘Yes,’ replied Collin, ‘I couldn’t help but notice. Perhaps we will end up in the area of the other supervisor.
“‘Hope so, Durwin, but she looks vicious,’ said Canda.
“‘We have our preliminary papers from the border crossing, and it’s just a matter of getting them processed,’ Durwin tried to sound reassuring. ‘She may not like us, but we should get through okay.’
“‘Hope you’re right,’ said Canda with a sigh.
“As the Lawtons slowly followed the line around the turn and up and down the rows once more, this woman, as she moved around her territory, continued glaring at them with increased intensity the nearer they came to being waited on. Coming down the final aisle was the worst, for then because of her location and theirs she could look straight at them. As she did she began to strut around with an air of authority all the more, occasionally slapping papers here and there, placing them down hard on the counter in a very perturbed looking manner.
“This supervisor was a very hefty, hard boiled looking woman, between fifty and sixty they guessed, with an upswept peroxide blonde hairdo and a very sour face. She was obviously down on the Lawtons for their