A Cat, A Box and A Cop “Handicap Rocks!”

I thought I should get up extra early for my appointment and taxi ride at 7Am to get my cat Earth spayed at the Lucky Paws Sunday morning, because I dare any body who is not handicapped to get her in a box, it was not happening until I got a real big box the third one, so she could not push at the top, or some how wriggle her little powerful body out. I had several spasms fighting to get her in the box. I had it figured, taxi to Lucky Paws, a short wait in line, and then ride the bus home. You see I was outside my walk zone, too far from home, or further than I usually walked, but I came prepared with extra clothes, knowing I could not get too cold with my handicap which most of the time was just twinges and spasm in my muscles, but can get very severe mimicking seizures if pushed, stresses or, well it just happens.

 

What I was not prepared for was no one there, me having spasms, and having to walk home with my cat in this huge box. This was far beyond my ability and the boxes, I had made a few distress calls, but my spasms were so bad I had to get off the phone and deal with my present situation. I gave it 20 minuets of pacing at first with out the box then with the box because Earth was getting out. I walked home after know one showed.

I made it two blocks fighting the cat the whole time, and lugging a box too big for me to carry far, before I noticed an officer drive by. I had spoken to people at the laundry mat for a guy in spasms over and over can get alarming, and told them I was handicapped, would be okay, and think I just got the day wrong for the spay clinic, so when the officer drives his car up onto the curb behind me after turning around I figure it is about the spasms at Lucky Paws. I turn around to say “Hi did he get a call about seizures in front of Lucky Paws?”

I was stopped mid sentence for the cop said, “I want to know what is in that box.”

“It’s my cat lieutenant then, I correct my self and say X. XXXXX. I was just at Lucky Paws and got the day wrong, you don’t have any right to stop me over a box.” I now realized I had a Cop who was after me for no reason while I’m busy keeping the cat in the box.. I explain “My name is John Ernst and I have handicapped and have spasms, and I’m fighting to keep my cat in the box if you come close I have PTSD and may fall into seizures” and As I paused looking where I could go while keeping the cat in the box she was tripping with all the noise. I was at the light and he said, “I could not got that way into traffic.”

I replied “I need to walk I will pace right here.” while keeping the cat in the box, and made a right down Mill; inside I am shaking attempting to fight off full spasms, keep calm respectful and as I went to walk he said “you can’t go” and keep you hands out of your pockets and started coming at me I backup attempting to tell him to stop, and that I would have a seizure, and that the officers had been instructed to give me room, while keeping the cat in the box. I fell slamming my right side into the ground while still fighting the seizure, the cop is reaching for his gun like WTF then calling medical and I’m attempting verbally to give the normal instructions to not calling medical which I give during a full seizure like episode which I was having and so on until I say, and finally after banging around on the ground for a couple of minuets still keeping the cat in the box. I finish by saying’ “You got no right to stop me, I don’t need this I’m handicapped and I’m going to pick up my hat which had fallen off my head and get up, lift this box” that lay held in my arms while I kept the cat in the box “and walk down the road you do what you need to do.” all the while keeping the cat in the box.. Turned my back on him, then turned back and said “You know this is just wrong.” “Officer you are out of line.” turned and walked away as he headed to his back to his vehicle parked blocking the sidewalk and ½ in the road. Basically he had made it so I had no escape from behind and had traffic in front of me at the intersection, beside me, and a hedge on the other a while I was busy trying to keep my cat in a box, he was busy trying to put me in a box..

            I walked for a few blocks tried to take off my gloves to call but still shaking to bad and can’t hold the box. I finally stop and call “XXXX” at Springfield Police Station and say “Hi XXXX, It’s John Ernst” “I don’t need any cops giving me a hard time for walking across town carrying a box until I have seizures fall and get hurt. She asked if I needed medical assistance. I said, “No I just need to be left alone, I’m a long way from home, but I think I can make it, so if some officer sees a guy carrying a box it’s his cat, and leave please me alone, I’m having a hard enough time as it is already.” And gave a little laugh as to say I’m not mad, I’m just not playing around. A little more was said about me making the distance home. She said, “If I needed help call”  and I hung up the Police had their chance to help in fact it would have been perfect timing for a nice ride home safe, for I was in-distress. I had to ditch the box after a mile, thank god I had gloves on for the next two, and that I didn’t fall over during my spasms walking. Earth and I made it home.