City Hall
In the afternoon, I set myself a challenge of justifying the poetics out of a ‘not-so-much-of it’ Information Desk at the City Hall. I’m here only a minute and on time, but it feels like weeks for me. I wait like a cat that’s ready to pounce at something in due second but don’t let it show — or that’s how I see it happening.
Sitting down I observe the customers lining up. A couple in particular, how expertly they are getting served by the lady behind the counted. To the rudimentary questions, the desk person appeared to be more and more knowledgeable. I soon see how tired and glum she had looked when answering and how years and years of this job broke her posture and possibly the entire persona. I, however, fail to figure out an excuse to walk up and have a chat to her, possibly offer her a joke, crack open a smile across her face. So I stay put and get rid of the idea. Fact is, I am stork ignorant about how “buildings and planning commissions” work and I hadn’t even acknowledged its existence prior to just minutes. I try to pay attention to the wait — with the aid of the book that I brought. The chairs are comfortable here which, is a merry start to it. With such thought, I drop my chin and gaze over the pages: loosely held open in my lap.
My mind gets slightly unsettled and eyes wandering — away from the textual monotone of the book towards the surrounding interior of the building. The big doors of the city hall, I see how it widens out to an arena intermittently — I keep on staring at them. The woodcraft there certainly demands attention, to say the least. Thick sets of timber carefully mechanized to automate the entries and exits of us. A Genius carpentry that taps the intelligence on queue.
I look towards the open space outside. It is hosting multiple events presently. Simultaneous activities were running yet somehow they were synchronized. An orchestrated cacophony. How brilliant! Judging with my absent mind and a broad stroke brush, the sponsored chaos seems to attuned to a progressive theme, in-topic subject and therefore, hashtag friendly. Nonetheless, it surely is enjoyable, even from a distance and separated by soundproof glass walls in between. Where I’m sitting, I feel I have an innate freedom to enjoy the visuals of it without any participation and from putting myself through to all the relevant etiquette.
I have heard of the events before, at the City Hall Square. They go on loud, proud and have a global reach, not to mention bring in profit. Yes, the city is surely rich in the bag and thus, has set the premise of my day. It cheers me up and I sit there slightly pleased with myself.
My mind again falls into another level of meandering spin. It seemed to have formed a habit of doing so, there have been patterns that I’ve noticed recently. It’s not at City Hall but away, hovering somewhere entirely different, distant. I get a lush playground, quite park-some, flashing in front of my eyes, cheers and crackles as well, at the back of my head. Like an audible projection to a wall in the dark, it lingers on. I even hear a projector tape, rolling to an open playground. Slide and slopes with running kids and their happy screams. Parents chanting gleefully and dogs bolting to and fro. Yes, dogs. One of which, mine, suddenly picks up an interest across the road and gets utterly excited. Makes his move — eyes wide open and fixated straight. Tongue flapping out of his mouth he jolts like there’s no tomorrow. I can see how happy he is while at it. There is no stopping of his speedy feet….
It was a late Autumn afternoon, one of the ‘Chilly Arvos’ — as I had sometimes coined to my peers. By them, I am regarded often “the master cant”, risky title if fallen into a set of unrehearsed ears. The leaves were changing colours in anticipation of a sad (winter) phenomenon which ironically, is an exquisite celebration for us. The departure of the foliage paved the pathway saffron and made it quite a joyous sight and pleasant walk. The wind was cool but felt gently in the skin and easily managed. The playground was busy as the looks and noise of it duly suggested. Everyone was overcoming certain senses; to a much calmer state in there. Adults were shaving off tiredness and kids, boredom. Elders seen to be taking their aching knees out for a stroll — per the Doctors. Pictures were snapped, mostly of selves with the prerequisite backdrop. I, for one, was ever a silent witness, minding my own two feet. Being content of sorts as everyone, I was in the vicinity of one another — observant, connected and acting along to a degree of attuned frequency. It felt as blissful as the season itself.
I believe human establishments endure mostly through recognition and silent praise of them. This park, wrapped all around and slithered by a snaky trail, was out layered by the main road with its due traffic- all well-paved and maintained for the sake of a beatific habitat. We had been celebrating leisure in all its quiet and merriment, by involuntarily cooping ourselves inside of that space. Also by doing so, inside the system of intricate municipal politics. We became dependent on them about our facility and the wellbeing of it. It’s quite amusing to think how blindly we lay our faith down the steps of the City Hall and rest ourselves assured that our representatives would care utmost for our causes - same as us. To say the least that our needs would get looked at, considered and taken action upon. But sadly, that’s us just being naive. How often had we experienced the delay in response to a need that is dire?
It is the park where I find myself visiting over and over for the sake of getting over the dread of what had happened- with mighty optimism.
Back in the City Hall, meanwhile, I gather myself quietly and stand up. My feet felt lazy so I shake them out of their dizzy spell gently. I started to walk towards a certain direction then paused momentarily. Perhaps to revise what I have in mind. A final rehearsal for my eponymous intervention? It has clocked ‘lunch’ for my representative. I have kept myself busy researching; in all my accidentally freed-up time. I know it for a fact that pretty soon the thick pine-door of room 32A will open up and my eyes with have him in the vicinity- walking outside to the square and gobbling up something leathery; with drips of multi-coloured goo.
“Good Afternoon Counsellor. Fine day out here we’re having, isn’t it?” — my greeting startled him extensively, truth be told. Of course, he’s not used to a face appear outside his appointments.
“Fine indeed”. Counsellor responds swallowing his bite along with a minor discomfort. The combination of sauce somehow makes his food slip down easily his throat, avoiding a choke.
“A heck of a day to be out and about in the park or so, won’t you agree?” — I felt like I had to retort, for I know time is a scanty magician with these politicians alike. I didn’t know how much of it is left for me in this encounter.
“You may find it hard to believe, but I know you Mr Rumpel. From the Media and other sources I might add. I realise your reason to be here and I appreciate your concern. Please let me assure you that we, me and my team, are doing everything to fast-track your Fencing appeal”. A polished and professional statement, just He might also, just be parroting after his PR. Either way, I felt the time is now to push the ground and set things straight.
“What I am here to say is that: we have full faith in you Counselor. But since the matter being too close to our hearts, we are following the progress quite closely”. I, at this point, felt an urge to elaborate on further. So I took a pause and continued.
“Information is much open these days and now we are much more aware of how things work in the municipality. We see well familiar with the ‘process flowchart’, same as you. It’s no hard work to also comprehend the roadblocks/red tapes that are laid forward; that often comes up as excuses.
You see, we need to set up a fence around the park, our park — but not quite for the reason, others might fathom. There is more to it than communal safety. It’s deeply personal to some of us. We feel the need here is to come together for the sake of our loved ones: a vow that’s bestowed upon our very selves. The City Hall, with all its might, authority and complex trail of paperwork, often enjoys limiting interactions between you and your constituents resulting undue delays and postponements. But mark my words Sir, this surely won’t be such a case. Now, the petition we submitted had 15,000 signatures and that is almost half the populace. With legalities due, we are awaiting an action plan by day 30 from your office. Today, on day 15, I’m here just to metaphorically nudge the table to make the files a move, heads to roll. Is that too much to ask for? Or just the appropriate amount?
We realise ours had always been a grave-digging system meaning, numbers need to pile up before an action is in place. Well, let me say we have that checked out here as well. I am down a family member because my dear dog ran his last into the road. How is that for a plea? Good enough for a push Mr Conselor?”.
At this point, I felt like the wind around us had dropped a bit and things got much quieter. I saw him picking up his face and looking at me, eye to eye. He seemed grounded as he threw me a generous smile and take his turn in replying.
“My condolences Mr Rumpel and please let me tell you that I am personally involved and have noted all the turn of events relating to the appeal. Communal safety is our utmost priority and we will, in this case, see through the matter and get it done pronto. We have validated your petition and insights be shared, we are presently in the procurement stage of it. I even pressed to name the enclosure “Remington Park” but that turned out to be another bureaucratic debacle. So I’ve let the amendment struck off from the proposal, for now. But please, do rest assured that we are getting our fence up”.
He seemed to have finished with what he had in his mind. I looked up. The sky seemed to have cleared up quite a bit as the Counselor finished his piece. I for one, was left mostly stunned from it. He must have been following the matter all along like he said. Else, how in good heavens, he would know the name Remington, my best friend?
I was getting fidgety with emotions at this point, could sense a stampede of them all on a sudden. I thanked the Counselor for his time, apologised for the interruption caused at his lunchtime and departed the scene hurriedly, all under a single breath. I didn’t want him to catch a glimpse of the gathering storm in the corner of my eyes.
Afterwards, there will be happiness. Hilarity will ensue and life will go along. Children will grow as season take turns. We would cherish ourselves with what we’d gained, accomplished. How we made eye contact, stood up to and put forward a fighting attitude for a cause we believed to be just. How we won the City Hall.
