Dangers

Actually slept past 0600 on a day off. Seems I could only sleep late on days when I must get up. This morning, made it to nearly 0800, which helped. Sat next to Moby on the sofa, and he leaned against my leg and tucked his head into my hand, even after I got up and sat down several times to get tea and breakfast.

Raining and grey, better when it's more rain. Walked to the library, got there too early. A crowd waiting in the atrium, a voice declaiming somewhere out of sight. D forgot his employee badge, both of us thought of going in through the back, but couldn't go through employee areas without it. Belligerent voice, "Do you know how to say hi?" A few times, then directed at us, aggressive, threatening, more as we tried to tell him to go away. Between the two of us, finally got him to walk away, although he kept glaring at us. Spoiling for a fight, I'm certain.

Doors open, the crowd sifts in, and we wait. Find a security guard just inside and tell him about Belligerent Guy, someone else also accosted by him adding to our description, then I spot him getting on the elevator. Security folks identify him, although the group is too thick for them to stop him. They'll keep an eye on him. Both of us bothered and shaken, wary. We are non-confrontational people, anger frightens us.

I have no issue with the street folks using the library, quite the opposite. But a number of people on the streets are there because they are not well socialized - for a host of reasons, and I'm relieved that people trained to deal with such behaviour are there. Not just librarians expected to take care of this.

Thinking about the Elizabeth Smart abduction. And (Brian*) David Mitchell trial just finished. I saw them, robed and walking the streets, never occurred to me who it might be. I never gave him money, but a lot of people did, and supported his crimes. The whole thing bothers me. Most of the people on the streets are no doubt lost souls. Some are far worse, dangerous.

*Added for precision.