Chapter Sixteen
Some twelve weeks after the accident and still in rehabilitation process, Adrian decides it is time to return back to work.
“I don’t know about that, old man.” Barry says.
“Ye are not 100% yet.”
“Not 100% what?” Adrian asks mischievously.
“There is no reason why I can’t go back to work. This good old wheelchair will get me anywhere I want to go until everyone and I are happy that I feel strong enough to run around again. My arm’s fine, I can answer the phones, write dockets.”
“Ye are stubborn, just like your Da.” Barry teases.
“Nope. I’m just terribly bored. One can only play so much TV games, watch DVD’s or sleep between the rehab. I just wish the doctors will allow me to ride. There is no better therapy than horse riding.”
Barry becomes very serious.
“That’s not going to happen. Not for a very long time, ye know that, so don’t even try to go there.”
It takes quite a while, but Barry patiently helps Adrian getting organized before Adrian very carefully gets into the car on the passenger’s side while Barry loads his equipment and the wheelchair so that they can go to the station.
“Just promise me one thing, if ye are tired, you are coming home, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
Arriving at the station, Henry is in the charge office like usual, checking and inspecting all the registers.
He looks up, looks at Adrian, very annoyed.
“Morning, Constable. Aren’t you supposed to be at home?”
“Morning, Major. Well, Dr. Clarence said I’m allowed to resume light duties today. I feel strong enough and I’m passed bored at home. Besides, there is nothing wrong with my hands.”
Henry shakes his head.
“Chip of the old block. I hate myself for being such an example of a hard working, a dedicated policeman. It rubbed off on all of my sons, but you the most. Do you really feel up to it? Are you strong enough?”
“Yes, Major. I think so.”
“Okay, but when you feel tired and when you are hurting, you are going home. I’m not asking. It’s an order.”
Adrian smiles and makes himself comfortable next to Henry. The counter was too high for him to interview the complainants, so he takes the OB to write it.
After making all the necessary entries, Adrian agilely makes his way to the kitchenette close to the charge office.
“Hey, Engelsman!” he calls Barry.
“Do you want coffee before you go?”
Barry enters, smiles.
“What question is that? Will ye manage?”
“Yeah. You’ll just have to carry the mugs for me obviously. I want to make my Dad some tea also. He is too busy to breathe.”
Although Adrian is office bound, the charge office is much busier than he thought it would be. The telephones are constantly ringing and Adrian also decided that it is the ideal time to teach the students how to register case dockets or complaints. He was getting very tired of the familiar “Eish, I don’t know”-attitude of the students and being a very patient person by nature, Adrian helps the students with everything they didn’t know or understand.
The telephone next to the computer rings again.
“Grabouw Police, good morning.” Adrian answers friendly.
“I need a vehicle at my complaint, immediately!” a rude man says.
“Okay, sir. Just calm down, please. It’s all right.”
Adrian proceeds to the function to register a complaint.
“What’s the problem there?”
“No, no, you just send a vehicle, okay?”
“Um . . . sir, I need the details of the complaint. What’s happening there?”
“You are stupid! Who am I talking to?!”
“Constable Parker.”
“You stupid policeman! You know, by the time you finished your trivia, the lady would be raped by then!”
Adrian types lightening fast.
“Sir, please give me your name and number so if there is a problem in finding the address, we can phone you.”
“Forget it! I won’t give it to you!”
“Where is the complaint, sir? Where must the Police go?”
“The Keg.”
“Um, sir, which one? We have a Keg & Leopard and a Keg & Barrel pub.”
“You are an idiot! Don’t you know your policing area?! How long have you been stationed in Grabouw?! You incompetent idiot!”
“Sir, I’m warning you, all my calls are recorded and I don’t appreciate—”
“No! Let me warn you! I’m a Commissioner and I will surely ensure your immediate dismissal!”
“What Commissioner? Such a rank does not exist. And if you were in the Police you would have known your Standing Orders, let alone telephone etiquette!”
“I will see you in five minutes!”
“I’m waiting for you!”
The call is disconnected on the complainant’s side and Adrian slams the handset down. He finishes typing the complaint, gives the complaint through on air before leaving his desk, wheeling the wheelchair to the outside.
Lieutenant October, very concerned, approaches him.
“Parker? What’s wrong? Who upset you so much? What’s going on?”
“It’s okay, Okkie.”
Adrian takes a deep breath.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Whoever called made you very mad. I haven’t seen you this mad in a long time.”
“Because he has threatened me. I hate it when people threaten me.”
“It’s okay. You know your dad records the telephone calls. That person will not get very far with any complaint against police.”
He puts his hand on Adrian’s shoulder.
“Are you okay? You look tired and pale. I think we must take you back home.”
Adrian looks on his watch.
“Well, it is twelve ‘o clock already. I think you can take me home. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“I think you are taking things too fast. I think you must still rest.”
“No, good gracious! Staying at home makes me feel frustrated. Let’s go, then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The bedside alarm buzzes noisily at 05:00 in the morning on Christmas Day.
Barry opens his eyes very reluctantly, stretches and groans softly. Working on Christmas on his birthday wasn’t a thought he relished. He got used to the big and happy family gatherings over Christmas on the farm in the house of togetherness and love.
“Morning, Engelsman.”
Barry turns his head, smiles.
“Hey, old man. Merry Christmas.”
“You too and happy birthday.”
Barry chuckles.
“Thanks, but I’m not sure if I really feel as if I’m having a birthday. Have to work.”
“Piece of cake. You’ll be very bored and very frustrated. Apparently, working on Christmas is very boring, very quiet. Anyhow, guess who’ll be smiling about his finances. Double pay today and tomorrow and also then the birthday bonus.”
“Och well, what can I say?” Barry smiles.
“Lucky me.”
Adrian hands Barry an envelope.
“I wasn’t sure what to get you for your birthday.” he says innocently.
“Ye don’t have to do that. You and your family have given me everything I need and more since I got here.”
Barry opens the envelope, but clouds up when he notices what’s inside, for it is much more than he had bargained for.
“Adrian . . .” he says softly.
“Why did ye do this?”
“Hey, do you honestly think I’ll need all that money they gave me?” Adrian laughs softly and puts his arm around Barry’s shoulders.
“Looks like I’m going to drive everyone to tears this morning.”
“But . . . why did ye do it? What will I do with all this money?”
“Just what you want to. I’ll advise you
to invest it, but it is yours to do with what you please. I gave my parents and brothers the same gift. The rest I’m going to invest so when the day comes that I’m really tired of being a policeman that I’ll have a big nest egg. I’m not sure what I’ll do with all the interest that it will pay off every month.”
Adrian smiles as Barry dries his tears before hugging Adrian.
“Thanks, lad.” Barry says softly.
“Your friendship is the best gift that God ever could have given me.”
They have a quick breakfast together and Barry stares wide eyed at Adrian when he dresses in uniform.
“And now?”
Adrian laughs.
“I’m ready. Back in full gear.”
“Ye sure?”
“Yeah. Dr. Clarence and the physio are happy, so I’m ready. Double birthday present?”
Barry smiles.
“Ye made me day.”
Just before parade, Adrian and Barry steps into the charge office, Adrian frowning at the shift doing the handing over.
“Morning, guys. Where is the rest of the shift?”
“Sorry, Constable. You and Daniels are on your own. No one else of the Delta shift pitched up for work.”
Adrian stares shocked at the Lieutenant.
“But . . . You can’t be serious! Just how am I suppose to manage that?!”
The Lieutenant shrugs his shoulders.
“You can try and organize some reservists.”
“Does the Major know about all this?”
“I don’t know. You are his son, aren’t you?”
Adrian tries to smile.
“Okay. I’ll see what I can do. Maybe we can organize with Somerset West to attend our complaints. Enjoy your rest.”
“Thanks. Good luck here.”
Adrian sighs and sits down at the table to write the OB. It just doesn’t make any sense because nowhere in the OB or IB are any instructions of the students having fitness assessments or anyone booking off sick. Only Lieutenant October was granted vacation leave. Henry ordered the rest of the shift to work through the Christmas season.
Barry emerges with two mugs of coffee from the kitchenette.
“Where is everybody?”
“It’s just you and me, Engelsman.” Adrian says miserably.
“I’ll phone Somerset West and hear if they are able to do our complaints. I can’t post you outside on your own.”
“Whoa! Does Henry know about this?”
“I doubt it. He’ll have a cardiac arrest. But I will have to phone him. Let us just check the safes first and write the OB.”
“Did anyone book off?”
“Not according to the OB.”
Adrian sighs and picks up the keys to the safe. Barry accompanies him so that they can check everything simultaneously that everything is in order.
Adrian sticks the key in the door and tries to turn the key, but the safe is already open.
“I’m really becoming mad now!” Adrian says agitated.
“They forgot to lock the safe!”
“Will be a bugger if anything disappears.”
“You tell me.”
Adrian opens the door and gets the fright of his life when he sees all the Delta shift members in the safe room.
“Merry Christmas and happy birthday!” they shout.
Adrian and Barry smiles embarrassed.
“You rogues!” Adrian says, laughing.
“I almost hanged myself!”
They all laugh, most of them presenting Barry with a gift for his birthday before they all proceed to the parade room for a very brief parade, except two students that have to remain in the charge office in case the phone rings or if someone comes into the charge office.
One of the other Constables approaches Adrian.
“The Lieutenant said I must inform you that Sergeant Klopper booked off sick.”
Adrian appears unhappy.
“Okay. Well, there is nothing we can do about that, really. Just make a late OB entry about that sick report.”
The members form a neat line and Adrian looks at them.
“Morning, guys. First things first. Let’s pray.”
The members take off their caps in a gesture of respect.
“Almighty Heavenly Father, thank you for this blessing today of being here to help our community and for blessing us with a job to come to. Thank you for this special day, that You have came to earth so that we can be saved. Please protect us today and please bless this day so that we can perform our duties to the Glory and Honor of Your Holy Name. We pray this in the only Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Adrian smiles briefly.
“Merry Christmas again. Thank you for that nice surprise this morning. I see that my sense of humor has rubbed off on you. Okay, guys, we are only eight members today. Barry and I will work outside. Constable Fourie, you are the most senior Constable apart from Constable Daniels and me so I leave you as the charge office commander. I will act as the shift commander today. Any problems whatsoever, please phone me, okay? Please remember to inspect your firearms in the courtyard area, not in the CSC. When you do the hourly cell visits, please go as a pair. Don’t go there alone and leave you firearms in the safe in the CSC. There are no IB entries to take note of. Anything on your minds?”
“No, Constable.”
Adrian smiles.
“Okay then. Squad, fall out!”
Adrian silently wonders what Henry was doing at home. It was to be a very lonely day for Henry because Adrian as well as Chrissie is working and Adrian’s brothers couldn’t manage to get leave to come to Cape Town over the Christmas season.
“Golf Romeo 6, Romeo.”
“Good morning again, Romeo. Proceed for Golf Romeo 6.”
“Stand by for Golf Romeo 1.”
“Golf Romeo 6, Golf Romeo 1.”
“Golf Romeo 1, good morning and merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas too, Golf Romeo 6. Please come to the station.”
“Copied, Golf Romeo 1. Be there in five mikes.”
Barry looks questioningly at Adrian.
“What would Henry be at the station for?”
Adrian sighs.
“Probably bored. Why he wouldn’t go and play golf, I won’t understand.”
They stop at the station, Henry waiting for them.
“Hi, Dad. Merry Christmas.”
Adrian hugs Henry close.
“Merry Christmas to you too. I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Henry holds Adrian at an arm length.
“What nonsense was that in my Christmas card this morning?”
“What? I don’t know about anything.” Adrian tries to sound innocent.
“It really wasn’t necessary, my boy. But thank you. Thank you so much. That will make a huge difference when I retire.”
“Are you considering retirement, Dad?”
“I’m starting to think of it, yes. But I have a couple of more years to go.”
Adrian looks very sad.
“You’re keeping this station together, Dad.”
Henry smiles.
“Really? Or is it because I’m protecting you two?”
Adrian blushes.
“Both.”
“Like I said, it’s not that soon.”
“Yeah well, Grandpa worked until he was 65.”
“He had something to work for. He worked in an organization where discipline was the norm. But besides that, I was wondering if there was space for a second crew on Golf Romeo 6.”
Adrian smiles.
“Do you want to drive, Dad?”
“I’d love to. Haven’t had the privilege of driving Golf Romeo 6 yet.”
Henry gets in behind the wheel.
“Romeo, Golf Romeo 6.”
“Send for Romeo.”
“Romeo, please be advised that the driver of Golf Romeo 6 has changed and that there are two crew members with the driver. Proceeding with my details?”
“Proceed.”
“The driver will be Major H Parker. Your crew will be the two members that booked on this morning. Did you copy all that?”
“Copied, Major. Special duties?”
“Negative. Just bloody bored. Also, merry Christmas from my side.”
“Same to you, Major. Thanks for the extra hand.”
“You’re welcome. Out.”
Henry looks at the kilometer readings.
“You pushed her.”
“I never just do complaints, Dad. Crime prevention, patrols too. No worries. All services are up to date.”
“Good.”
“Dad, just something, we normally stop for some hot chocolate at the garage before we start working.”
“That hot chocolate best be worth it. I’m not sure if I’m really in the mood for it. It’s bloody hot.”
“How about some juice then? Rounds are on me.” Adrian says.
Henry smiles, stops at the garage where Adrian gets them some beverages before they start their duties.
“I believe the shift mentioned something of a shift braai over lunch time?”
Adrian looks questioningly at Henry.
“It’ll be cool, but they never mentioned something like that at the parade this morning.”
Henry frowns at the sight of an abandoned vehicle at the side of the road. He brings the car to a standstill at a safe distance from the mini bus.
Barry takes up the mike.
“Romeo, Golf Romeo 6.”
“Proceed.”
“Romeo, permission to test a registration number?”
“Proceed, Golf Romeo 6. It is quiet enough.”
“Thanks. I proceed: Charlie Juliet 46521, I repeat, Charlie Juliet 46521. Did you copy?”
“Copied.”
“It’s deserted here on the Viljoenshoop Road. No occupants.”
“Roger. The vehicle belongs a Mr. Dlamini. Mr. ND Dlamini from section H, Klapmuts. Was reported stolen on the 1st of this month.”
“Romeo, kindly contact the owner. We will wait for him here. It appears that it will be a merry Christmas for someone indeed.”
“Copied, Golf Romeo 6. Please stand by.”
Henry sighs.
“Well, I’m always glad for something like this, but there goes your braai.”
“No worries, Dad. At least someone will smile today.”
They get out and Adrian also takes Nero out and unleashes him so that he can stretch his legs.
“You’ll have to kennel Nero when the people get here, Adrian. I don’t want them to go and tell everyone that they have been bitten or assaulted.”
“Okay, Dad. But I think they might still be a while.”
Nero has adequate and fair time to run around before Adrian kennels him again.
Just in time, because just a minute or two later, Mr. Dlamini arrives accompanied with his whole family as well as the necessary SAPS key personnel.
Then something happens that Adrian will treasure for all his life. The one black lady rushes to Henry. She is a big, fat woman and the smell of tobacco that she sniffed up enveloped her. She flings her arms around Henry, slightly picks him up off his feet and kisses Henry full on the mouth.
Adrian hastily turns around to the car, gets inside to take a sip of his juice and to collect himself not to laugh.
Henry is a devoted, reborn Christian, but he had a big flaw. He always tolerates all his personnel and his farm folk, but he still has the nasty belief that white people are superior to black people and he had made no secret of it.
The lady then aims for Barry too, but he pretends to be overcome by some cough of some sort.
Adrian innocently gets out of the car and notices Henry smoking his pipe profusely.
“Just give me some of your juice, Constable. We are going to stand here a while and I’m bloody thirsty.”
Adrian smiles. Henry isn’t thirsty. They all know that.
After a very long while, all the formalities are finalized and most of the people, including the complainants, have left.
Henry tries to light his pipe again, but he can’t find his Zippo.
“Major, do you need a light?” one of the members of the vehicle pound asks mischievously.
“Yes, please. Damn it!” Henry bites lightly on his pipe.
“I hope this will do, Major. I unfortunately only have this black lighter.”
Henry swears and the other policemen, including Adrian and Barry laughs hysterically. Adrian innocently puts Henry’s Zippo back in his hand.
“If you weren’t a grown man, you would have had it, boy’tjie. But don’t worry, I’ll peg you for this.”
After some while after patrolling the area for a while, they receive a call from Romeo that Adrian hated the most sorting out.
“Where are the days when I was your age that all the shops were closed on Sundays and public holidays, especially Christmas. Nothing is sacred anymore.” Henry complains.
“Dad, do you think Mom will come home early today?”
“No, I doubt it, my son.”
“Next year, hopefully, we won’t have to work on Christmas.” Adrian says.
“It’s awful. It is supposed to be a time for being with your family.” Barry complains.
“Well, emergency services never rest. You know that.” Henry answers.
They stop at the Keg & Barrel, Henry goes inside to see if the liquor licence is still valid and Adrian and Barry walks to the entrance where the complaint is.
“Good day.” Adrian greets and he is glared at by a drunken white man, very powerfully built, tall in height.
“Are you aware of the fact that you may not bring your minor child to the bar with you?”
He swears Adrian.
“I’m only asking once in a polite manner. Go home and spend time with your family. If you and your child will not leave these premises, I’ll lock you up.”
“Oh really, and who do you think you are?” the teenager asks Adrian.
“I’ll bring you down, real fast. You also look like you need to be attending high school, so I won’t listen to you.”
“Already intoxicated, aren’t we? Then I can smell something else on your breath too. Go home and play with your Lego’s, chum. I’m not keeping company with children anymore. You are not allowed to be here. If you don’t leave, I’m going to arrest you.”
The teenager tries to hit Adrian with the fist, but Adrian is much too fast and he grabs the kid’s fist in his hand, turning his arm. The boy moans.
“Put my son down, immediately! If you don’t, you’ll land up in the morgue where you belong and I’ll also phone my attorney!”
The man grabs Adrian by the collar, forcing Adrian to let the teenager go as Adrian is lifted off his feet.
Adrian takes hold of his tonfa.
“Sir, I’ll advise you to keep your hands off my uniform. Put me down! I’m going to arrest you!”
“You! You and who?”
Adrian taps him with enough force on the knuckles to make the man wince in pain, but still he refuses to let Adrian go. He tears Adrian’s uniform shirt right from underneath the bulletproof, causing Adrian to lose his temper and Adrian hits him hard on the knuckles. He gets hold of the man’s hand in a steady grip and with supernatural strength he never imagined he had, throws the man on the ground, pinning him down on the ground with his knee before cuffing him.
The teenager thought he could follow in his father’s footsteps to assault Barry, but he didn’t keep track with Barry’s Scottish temper.
Henry emerges from the pub and stares at the two suspects lying on the ground.
“Do you know these two brutal policemen?” the man asks Henry.
Adrian grabs the man’s elbow and squeezes the nerve, causing the man to groan.
“Sir, I’m informing you that you and your son are both under arrest on charges of assault on a police official, obstruction of the execution of my duties, crimen injuria, the use of prohibited substances, the fact
that you allow your minor child to accompany you to a bar and use alcohol with you and for the malicious of damage to State property. I will advise you to use your right to silence. If you prefer not to use this right, anything you say, may and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford one, the State shall provide you of one.”
“You’ll regret this! My attorney is the best in the country!” he swears again.
“Sir, I believe my members told you to use your right to silence. Shut up!”
Henry looks at Adrian and Barry.
“I called for back up. When they arrive, go to the station and make the necessary OB entries. And don’t forget to take photos of your torn uniform, Constable Parker.”