1987 Loopty-Loop

1987 Loopty-Loop

I looked up at the moonless sky. Well, I supposed the moon was there, it was simply obscured by wish-washy clouds. The laden clouds couldn't make up their minds whether they wanted to rain, sleet, snow or any combination thereof. They only knew they had to weep. Weep all over the sensitive e-field warning system and therefore all over me, a lowly security watch person sent on the task of keeping my eyes on the space between the double defensive fences since the questionable weather prevented the cameras from performing their duties.

On a clear night I would be inside the guard house keeping my eyes on the monitors in the control room chatting it up with the Sergeants on duty dispatching security officers in vehicles whenever the wind or some wild animal or bird triggered an alarm within the wondrous fields protecting the energy plant from unknown nefarious villains. Since the cameras became useless in bad weather, the solution was sending the camera watchers out into the miserable weather hunched over in their hooded parkas and slickers to become the defense technicians walking around and around in the unending loop of the plant perimeter. Two of us going in opposite directions, never stopping long enough for anything but a nod at the other. Luckily there were also two security officers doing the same in vehicles going two miles-per-hour around the two-mile track.

As I slosh through another puddle how I wish I had remembered to pull on my stylish galoshes. Somewhere between two and three in the wee hours of the morning with almost two hours before anyone would relieve me how wet will my socks be, how cold my feet? How can I complain when I'm being paid to take a walk? How I love this job! I start singing in the rain. Fortunately, no one is around to hear me... Until there is.

“Well, hello, Newbie! What's that you're singing?”

I was surprised when the security officer in the aging Jeep pulled along side of me. “Nothing significant. Trying to pass the time is all.”

“Well, you're chipper. Not many have the will or energy to sing in these circumstances. I was just stopping by to see what condition your condition is in.”

“Wish I had my boots but otherwise taking a nice walk in the slush.”

“Gotta keep moving but will catch you on the next loop. Name's Don, by the way. Welcome on board.”

“Name's …” But he was already out of earshot. “ 'Singing in the rain. Just singing in the rain. How happy I am...' wish I remembered more words. Oh, well.”

As I continued making loopty-loops my mind did the same. Back to my dead-end marriage. Having four children in the first five years I thought we were in it for the long haul. But the first ever woman police officer the department hired lured him away in the blink of an eye. After sixteen years of happily ever-after I had to go out in the real world and get a real job. This fresh start pays more than the other false starts I tried.

Hey! I think today is the day my divorce becomes final. I should find a way to celebrate. Have a party. Here's to fresh starts! I make a toast to the unhappy heavens. 'Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!'

“Looks like your glass is half empty.” Don has circled around. He's gonna think I'm half loopy raising my hand to the sky.

“Just offering a prayer to powers that be. Maybe show a little mercy.”

“Some of us night C-shifters stop and have breakfast after we get off. The B guys go for drinks at The Pub but we do coffee at Flinnie's. Wanna come along?”

“I could only do that with advance notice. My mom sleeps over with my kids.”

“We do it often. I'll let you know. Bye for now.” He's off again.

I nod to the other walker, a woman, I think. Hard to tell in all our matching bulky foul weather gear. “Nice November weather we're having.” She grunts in return keeping her head burrowed down. I'm jealous because she at least has her sloppy galoshes on.

Briefly I ponder how we can be effectively defending this place when we can't see any better than the cameras through the dark drizzle. I plod onward. Most of these employees have been doing this for years. How long will I last? Sort of mind numbing. And toe numbing, too. I stamp my feet a little harder trying to bring feeling back.

“You don't have to march.” The other S.O. in the other aging Jeep calls out to me. Why am I always doing something ridiculous when someone goes by?

I salute him and give him a thumbs up. Guess I'll hear about that move later, too. No one salutes Security Officers. Maybe Sergeants, Lieutenants and Captains but not S.O.s. No saluting is mandatory. I'm building a great reputation already!

I peer up into the sky once more. Yea! The clouds are scattering. The waning moon peeks out. One more loop around and a Sergeant squawks into my walkie-talkie, “C-13 you can come in now. The cameras are clear.”

“10-4, C-4,” I answer back.

Under the overhang at the guard house I shake the water off my slicker like a lake-soaked dog just when Don walks over after being relieved of his vehicle. Of course, he gets drenched.

“So sorry, didn't see you there.”

“You're a sharing person, I see. Never did share your name, though.”

“It's...”

“C-13.” Squawked on my shoulder. “It's your turn to be mandated to stay over on A shift. It's gonna be a sunshiny morning so the sun's reflection will block out the cameras. You're hereby mandated to stay and walk the e-fields.”

“I'll need to notify my babysitter, Sergeant.”

“Phone is in the Lieutenant's office. Report there at once.”

“Nice to meet you, Don. Thanks for helping me get through the night. Rain or shine this job keeps one doing loopty-loops. By the way, name's 'Mary'.”

“Well, Mary. Be ready to have your life changed forever.”