Welcome to the Chain Gang

Last week I was running along Salmon Creek, which flows through a large green space near our house. As I ran through I noticed a group of men handing large potted plants from a flatbed truck down to a bridge over the river, where they were planting them. It was a large gang of men, and as I got closer I slowed down so I wouldn't get in the way as they turned with their heavy loads and passed them on to the next man.

As I stood there, I noticed that just beyond the man stood several police officers. One of the officers nodded to me.

Officer: You can go on through.

Me: I just didn't want to get in the way.

Officer: Ha ha. Be careful or we'll grab you and put you to work.

I had run about fifty yards past them before I realized just how creepy that sentence was... it reminded me of old grifter novels I'd read where some guy is wandering around, minding his own business and he gets snagged for "vagrancy" and put to work on the chain gangs.

I made sure to mind my business and not say anything when I ran back through there a half hour later.