Mobashar Qureshi - Race

I lifted my head from the pillow and squinted at the clock. It was time to get up. Five more minutes, I warned myself.

Twenty minutes later groggy and bleary, I sat up on my bum, my feet dangled over the bed. I yawned and then yawned longer and wider.

Im not a morning person.

In fact, Im not even a night person.

Im a sleep person.

Wrap and seal me in a coffin and leave me alone; thats what Im talking about. And no need to dig me up, as I would still be sleeping. But, like three million others in Toronto, I am forced to go to work.

I rubbed my belly. It was soft and natural. I once dreamed of having six-pack abs. It turned into a nightmare when I realized I had to actually do something. I was able to manage a two-and-a-half-pack. No more than that.

I pulled myself up on my feet. I felt along the walls and found my oasis: the bathroom. I finished my task and then moved to the kitchen, following my morning routine. A sweet smell seeped into my nostrils. My state-of-the-art coffee maker had spurted the last drop twenty minutes ago.

I grabbed my favorite cup, a picture of a mouse snoozing in bed, and filled it with the dark liquid.

I strolled to the second-floor balcony and inhaled the morning air. It smelled ofumlets seewell, it just smelled.

Below, Gerrard Street bustled with the early morning commute. Cars, minivans, and SUVs maneuvered around the white-and-red streetcars, afraid of getting stuck behind one.

Across, a brown tow truck parked in front of a gray Honda Civic. The Civic had already been tagged; a yellow ticket flapped underneath the windshield wiper. The driver emerged from his truck and swiftly began securing the vehicle.

It was the most beautiful sight in the world. Justice was being done right before my eyes. At this moment I could have shed a tear or two, but I wasnt.

The name on my Toronto Parking Enforcement badge reads: Jonathan Rupret-not Rupert-but Rupret. If theres ever any confusion, always remember, R before the E. Jon Rupret is my name, parking tickets is my game.

I had arrived from Guelph two years ago, as a mild-mannered college graduate. Now, I was a superhero in a parking enforcement uniform.

As I am an only child-with no siblings and not many friends, my Mom wasnt too happy with me coming here. She thought Id be lonely. A superhero was never lonely. His friend was his duty and my duty was to keep the parking in Toronto efficient.

The Civic was now secured.

Keep up the good work, I yelled across, saluting with my cup.

The tow-truck driver waved back, approvingly. Two law enforcers sharing a Kodak moment; it was priceless.

I have to say I cannot stand violators. They never seem to understand that the roads are for everyone. There are city-parking laws and they must be enforced.

Obviously, the owner of this Civic had no regard for the law. Parking wherever and whenever he wanted. He probably even thought he was above the law. While everyone else got up early to move their cars, he could sleep in and not worry. That crook!

The tow-truck driver was inside his truck and was now easing it into the road. The Civic trailed behind.

I took a sip of my coffee. My senses flooded back. Everything seemed much, much clearer now.

Wait a minuteI squintedthat Civic looked familiar

Hey, wait, I yelled. Thats my car! The cup slipped out of my fingers.

I skipped down the stairs and was out onto Gerrard Street in no time. But I was too late. The tow-truck dragged my car into the distance.

Not again, I mumbled.

This was the morning rush hour and it was tag-and-tow time.

I decided to go back inside. I was attracting too much attention in my Toronto Raptors pajamas.

My building had one parking spot and my Filipino landlady, who, by the way, lives below me, occupied it. Her son lived a block away and I was allowed to park in his driveway any time. But last night I was too lazy to drive over there. Come to think of it, what had I done last night?

I stomped up the stairs and was ready to slam the door when I realized my landlady would hear me and come up to see if everything was okay. I didnt want to spend the morning explaining why I didnt drive that one block.

I nearly screamed when I saw my favorite cup in pieces on the floor. I was ready to shed a tear now.

Would this mean I had to give up coffee? Who would replace the snoozing mouse? Could I ever get over the snoozing mouse and continue on with my life? There were too many questions running in my head, with few answers.

I cleaned and then had breakfast-without coffee. I wasnt going to replace the snoozing mouse so soon. I had to give myself time to mourn.

I changed into my Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO) uniform: light blue shirt with black tie, black pants with blue stripes on the sides, a black police cap, and a handy-dandy radio. Half an hour later I stood on the sidewalk waiting for the streetcar.

It was embarrassing. Here I was a member of the police force, looking exceptionally fine in my uniform, waiting for transportation.

If only Id come to my senses sooner, I would have yelled at the tow-truck driver and would now be in my car. Instead, I had saluted and congratulated him for taking it away. The only thing left was to give him a box of Turtles and sing him a song.

Crap.

Rain pelted my shirt. I was wet.

You cannot trust the weather in Toronto. It could be bright and sunny one minute and pouring the next. Thats why the weatherman always says it like its a guess or a possibility: Today, its going to be sunny, partly cloudy, thirty percent chance of precipitation, some mild wind, slight chance of humidity and maybe some snow. In Toronto, you wake up and take your chances. Ive had days where its freezing in the morning and damn hot in the afternoons.

The rain was soaking my uniform, and not to mention, wrinkling my beautiful black skin.

I could walk five steps left and save myself from the rain in the bus shelter, but there were already four people inside it. Two teenagers, an old lady with a dog that looked more like a raccoon, and a guy in a business suit.

Civilians.

Officers dont share bus shelters with civilians. Never. Okay, technically, a Parking Enforcement Officer is also a civilian. But Im a civilian with a cool uniform.

I pushed my police cap lower and stuffed my hands in my pockets. Eventually, this rain would stop or the streetcar would come.

Ten minutes passed and neither happened.

I decided my stubbornness was going to get me sick. Abruptly, I turned left and took the five steps.

The inhabitants of the bus shelter made room as I took my position in the corner, dripping and wet.

I tried not to make eye contact with anyone, especially the dog, but I did. It was staring up at me. Then his or her-I can never tell the difference-tongue came out.

Fine. Mock me.

You dont even look like a mans best friend. You look like a large rodent.

When no one was looking I stuck my tongue out. The dogs tongue instantly went back in.

Thats right. Now whos the man?

The streetcar approached.

I went up the steps and the driver nodded. Officers of the Toronto Police Services do not have to pay fares while using public transit. The Toronto Transit Commission or TTC allows officers to ride free of charge; it deters crime while they are on a bus, train, or in my case, streetcar.

A punk kid snickered at my wet uniform and I was ready to arrest him but seeing that he was only six years old, I gave him a warning look and moved to the back of the car.

The ride was uncomfortable. I kept my focus on the advertisements plastered above, but I could feel eighteen eyes on me. The passengers were probably wondering why I wasn't prepared like them and carrying an umbrella. This was Toronto, theyd say, you should know better.