Chapter 51: Nabbed at the Bus Station

 

Harley “Dee Dee” Semple, author’s grandfather
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February 18, 1969

(Downtown Sioux City)

Dee Dee slinks behind a department store column. Conspicuous in his oversized raincoat and hat with feather in brim, bumbling around like some hick private dick:

Inspector Clouseau.

Does he really believe I can’t see him? I pretend not to see him.

I slip inside the depot and buy my ticket to York, Pennsylvania. Which leaves me about $4.00--but, with Jeff’s help, I’ll get by. The bus isn’t scheduled to leave Sioux City for another 90 minutes. I try shaking him, trick him into thinking I’m not splitting yet.

As I turn to leave the station, Dee Dee blocks my way. “Absolutely not!” Dee Dee grabs my arms.

“Let go!”

He grips so tight I can’t move without pushing him to the floor.

“Let go of me, old man.” I try to break free without hurting him.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“You just try and stop me.” Still trying to break his grip.

He squeezes more. Vise grip.

“Leave me alone!”

Damn! That asshole has no right to hold me against my will. I should just push that old man to the floor, turn tail out of Sioux City, not stopping until I cross the state line into Nebraska or even Illinois.

Instead, “Let’s see what the police have to say.”

Nothing to fear, right? I’m of age, after all, and I’ve done nothing wrong.

After I tell the police about quitting LSD, weed, and Bennies, they’ll let me go. Yes?

Dee Dee releases me.

I flee to the police station, a short distance from the bus depot, Dee Dee at my heels.

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“Nabbed at the Bus Station,” © copyright 2013 - present, by Jennifer Semple Siegel, may not be reprinted or reposted without the express permission of the author. Published in Memoir Madness: Driven to Involuntary Commitment