Walking Papers

Coincidence. As per usual, come Thursday and I have the strong urge to visit the Moana-ki-Nui recreation center, where $2 gets you admission into a chlorinated hot water spa. As per usual, I take some reading material, so that 1) I can avoid talking to fellow spa-goers & 2) actually finish must reads (more for #1 as of late, pushed by #2). I was reading Sometimes Rhythm, Sometimes Blues: Young African-Americans on Love, Relationships, Sex and the Search for Mr. Right, edited by Taigi Smith. All of a sudden a dozen Samoan men (mostly young with a few older ones) make big waves as they wade into the spa, I keep my cool, however it was short-lived....the temperature of the water immediately rose miraculously. I don't know if it was the amount of people in the spa, their testosterone, my estrogen, or just the faulty jet streams and piping, but whew, was I hot. However, too ma (embarrassed) to leave in a bikini in front of a dozen gazing admirers (at least I hope they would admire), I sat in the spa for a full hour, waiting for them to leave first...which they did, all the while I ignored furtive glances, and even comments made by the bolder (more obnoxious) youngbloods, who said in Samoan something about me studying. Yes, I was studying, studying a book full of short essays written by a range of Black men and women about one thing: the rhythm and blues we call "love"...
...On my walk home from the Moana-ki-Nui spa, I pick up four pieces of white paper, stapled together. It is the walking papers ("release licence") from the Dept of Corrections of NZ, for "offender subject to short-term sentence who is released from prison or home detention on court-imposed conditions". The offendors name: William James Parata, #139222. Date of release: 15 Dec 2004. Prison: Mt. Eden Mens, "Where you have been serving a sentance of imprisonment, which started on 24 Nov 2004, for the offence(s) of: Default in payment of fine, driving in a dangerous manner, drove under influence drink/drugs-3rd/Sub, other assaults with weapon."
I've got my walking papers. I leave on Monday for Tonga..."fieldwork", which in my case, is "Homework"...I will be taking a journey to find my homes.
I see finding the walking papers of William James Parata another coincidence, a sign that I am on a path, that is not 'right' nor 'wrong'. I'm on a path that, simply stated, is authentically mine. And no one has ever walked this path before. Somewhere recently (I think in the book "Participatory Methods") someone wrote that there is a saying that says "A path is made by walking. Paths don't exist until someone makes the first steps." Or something to that effect. My passion for prison abolition remains. Who is William James Parata? Is he still on the streets? Or did he become another recidivist offender? His crimes were fairly minor...and he served only three weeks of a six month sentence. However, I 'm thinking if this guy was in the states, and was a non-citizen, and committed the same crimes, he would probably be deported to his native country. "Assaults with weapon" sounds to me like an "Aggravated Felony" ala IRA-IIRA 1996.
How did WJ Parata's walking papers get here, to the Bader Dr. sidewalk nearly three years after they were first distributed? And the paper is still white, looks like its been indoors for ages. I can still see the bends in the paper, as if it had been folded in an envelope. Up at the top in blue ink is handwritten "copy" (looks like a girl's writing). I deduce that this must be WJ's actual copy. Where are you WJ? I hope you are free, and having a good, loving life.