My “Mini” Trial
My existential Trial began last Friday. Rumor had it that the plumber who was going to accompany us this week to Navajo Mountain was in jail, not scheduled to be released until the next Tuesday. This was a problem because this specific plumber had helped us on similar projects and could hit the ground running. Additionally, he is a knowledgable, hardworking guy. Damn. I checked county records and sure enough he was in jail. I wondered about getting him released early?
The jail receptionist indicated that I had to talk to the parole people. And, of course, they are on a four-day work week, closed on Friday. Damn.
Despite the absense of a plumber, we decided to mobilize on the Navajo Reservation as planned on Monday. I would stay behind and try to get The Prisioner released from jail early, or, at the very least, try to get him to the work site as soon as he was officially released. We were working with three elderly Navajo women, trying to get them indoor water and electricity before winter sets in.
On Monday early, I called The Prisoner’s parole officer. He didn’t answer. On the third try, I was told he wasn’t coming in until 10:30 am. At noon, I was finally told he wasn’t coming in at all that day. The receptionist referred me to “officer-of-the-day.” He was very nice but told me that he didn’t have the authority to help me. He referred me the parole officer’s supervisor. I then tried to call the alleged supervisor. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in either. Damn.
Later on Monday afternoon, I was able to talk to the alleged supervisor. Unfortunately, he was the wrong supervisor. I was then given the number of the correct supervisor. I tried his telephone number. Unfortunately, I had written it down wrong and had to call the parole office back and get the correct number. The correct supervisor was unfortunately not in. Damn. I gave up for the night. I was told that The Prisoner’s parole officer would be in on Tuesday.
On Tuesday morning early, I called the parole office. I was told the parole officer in question wouldn’t be in until 10:30 am. In the meantime, I made an appointment to visit The Prisoner (aka the plumber or The Stranger). At 10:30 am, I arrived at county lockup. After being relieved of my coins, cellphone, and belt, I was given permission to see The Prisoner. The visiting areas are named after ski resorts; I was headed to Sundance. It is located upstairs and down a long hall.
The Prisoner was still interested in doing plumbing work, so we made plans to leave town the moment he was released from jail, 4:23 pm. However, he indicated that he had to get permission before he could leave the State of Utah. (Our work location was just south of Utah’s southern border and at night we were staying in Page, AZ. In other words we were barely out of state, but definitely out of state). Damn. The Prisoner stayed in the prisoner’s area while I returned downstairs to retrieve my cellphone. I called the parole officer, but he still wasn’t in. I then tried the officer-of-the-day. He was very nice but said a permit was indeed needed to leave the state, and that we had to visit the parole office in person. Luckily, they are open until 6:00 pm because they are, of course, on a 4-day week. At last everything seemed to be moving toward a conclusion. I returned to “Sundance” and told The Prisoner I would pick him up at 4:23 pm. I then returned to work.
About noon, I got a call from the “officer-of-the-day” and he indicated that The Prisoner would not be given permission to leave the state. His parole officer was adamant that he could not travel. I next called the parole officer who was now in. He was brusque, and considered travel a reward and he wasn’t about to reward The Prisoner. Damn. Obviously there were issues here I wasn’t aware of.
I tried to tell the parole officer, that all I was trying to do is help 3 elderly ladies who live in extreme isolation get water and heat; but my pleas fell on deaf ears. Damn again. Isn’t it good for parolees to work? and on humanitarian-like projects? I called my colleagues working on the Navajo Reservation and told them that there would be no plumber.
At 4:20 pm, I showed up at the booking office and started the process of getting The Prisoner released. While I was there a weird cast of characters showed up to pay fines, get prisoners released, etc. They all seemed very sad, if there is a purgatory then this is certainly precursor. Eventually, The Prisoner was released. By then, one of his friends had dropped by to take him home. So we had a brief conversation. He told me he still wanted to work and wasn’t sure how long the travel ban would last. He told me he wasn’t guilty, but had to confess before they would release him from jail? I wondered about The Trial.
Its Tuesday and I’m back where I was on Friday, no plumber for our Navajo project. Everybody needs an existential experience, think one part Camus, one part Kafka, and one part McGoohan. Shaken, not stirred.