Du-Dun

Many weeks ago I was out on a Sunday morning run (you know, training for the Elevating My Assets event). I turned a corner towards the end of the run and saw two men grappling with each other about a block away. That’s the only way I know how to describe it. But I saw something shiny. I started running a little further and could tell that one man was wailing on the other one with a metal object.

Excuse me?

I tried to look all around me and assess the situation. Just to the right of me was a man who had just left church and was in his Sunday best. He stood there watching the same scene as I and looking at his cell phone, seeming to ponder “Should I do something?” Apparently his answer was no because he made guilty eye contact with me, put the phone in pocket and got in his car. He didn’t even call the police!

Fortunately police happened to be driving by and just the mere sight of the police car broke up the fight. The man with the metal object object RAN AS FAST AS HE COULD away from the scene and the police drove after him. I ran over to a gas station to grab some napkins and then ran to the victim (and I use the word loosely since I don’t know what went down but I know he got the cr@p beat out of him) so I could assist him. I held napkins on his pulsing, bleeding forehead until paramedics could arrive.

While sitting there crouched over this bleeding man, this person who lives in my neighborhood, I learned that he was beat by a wrench and I saw blood splattered around in a five-foot radius.

When the police came and the man was being taken away by paramedics, I asked if they wanted my information. I recall clearly the policeman asking me, “You don’t want to show up in court?” Mind you, I offered my contact information. So I said I was fine with court and gave him details about how to reach me.

And they have. I have received two subpoenas for court to appear as a witness. This will be my personal tribute to Law & Order, which I loved. I’ve told a lot of people about this and people ask if I will appear in court. I keep my mouth shut but it makes me wonder:

• Do you know that I have to show up since I got a subpoena???
• If I didn’t show up, how am I any better than that man in his Sunday best who got in his car and drove away?