The Peace Keepers
By; Gerald A. Polley
Chapter 1
Samuel Horowitz fit the stereotype of a young man with Jewish ancestry. His hair was thick and dark black, his eyes were dark brown, and his skin had the olive tone of someone with East European ancestry. Even if he wasn't dressed in the clothes of a young man whose parents belonged to The Children Of Abraham, many people would easily guess his heritage. And right now his worried expression would also tell them he was a young man in trouble!
When the phone had rung in his classroom the teacher had answered it and got that disgusted look on her face everyone knew someone was in trouble. And when she had said "Samuel Horowitz, the principal would like to have you come to your locker immediately!" Samuel knew that individual was him.
It couldn't be what he suspected. They had just had locker inspection three days ago. It was too early for random checks. It couldn't be what he suspected, but as he rounded the corner in the hall his heart sank. It was his worst fear. There, by his locker, was the principal, and with him was a police officer with a happily panting German Shepherd.
"Mr. Horowitz," the principal snapped, "will you be so kind as to open your locker? We have reason to believe there is contraband inside."
Samuel knew he could say no, but that would mean he would be taken to the principal's office, and first his parents would be called, and asked for permission to open his locker. If they refused, a judge would be called and a search warrant requested. But Samuel knew his parents would grant permission. His father had been bad enough when they were Jewish. Since they had become Spir he had become even stricter.
Samuel took out his keys and opened the locker. In an instant the dog grabbed his backpack and hauled it out and began to paw at it. "Good boy!" the police officer praised, "Good job! Sit! Let's see what we've got here."
He knelt down and opened the bag, withdrawing a large plastic bag filled with a brown grass like substance. The policeman looked up with a very cross expression. "An awful lot here for one person!" he snapped. "Doing a little dealing, son?"
"No sir," Samuel answered, "we were planning a get together sir. We pooled our money to buy a large supply."
The policeman looked through the rest of the bag then examined Samuel. "No pager," he remarked, "no tally book. He's probably telling the truth."
He took out his hand cuffs, motioned Samuel to turn around and cuffed him. "It is my duty to inform you," he continued, "that I am now placing you under arrest for being in possession of an illegal substance. And I must, at this time, advise you that you have the right to remain silent, that anything you say from this moment on, may be used against you in a court of law. That you have a right to an attorney and if you cannot afford an attorney the courts will assign one to you and that attorney may be present while you are questioned. Do you understand these rights?"
"Yes, sir!" Samuel answered.
"Do you have anything to say at this time?" the officer asked.
"No sir!" Samuel nodded.
"Stand over there while we continue the inspection," he snapped. "An officer will be along in a short time to transport you to the station."
Samuel nodded and took up a position by the wall. The police officer praised his dog again and said "Come on! Let's see if we can find some more."
A few minutes later an older female officer arrived, took Samuel out to her car, and transported him to the police station. There he sat in a holding cell for some time until he heard a very pleasant woman's voice calling his name.
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