“...if he tries to leave with any female or even a male..., stop him and let me know at once.”

It was day four at a festival in Manchester, and I had at various times been positioned at the backstage entrance, green room entrance, and the accessibility section.

It was a pretty cool event with lots of music, dancing, and related activities. The turnout was impressive so there was no dull moment.

There were bars in the outdoor festival square, and another bar in an adjacent building, which also was hosting an art exhibition.

Most people exited the festival square to go into the building to use the toilets, while some went in to see the exhibition during the intervals between each performing acts.

The instruction was that anyone coming from the building into the festival square with a bag had to be checked. Just light bag searches, no body search.

"Delta one to November three."

I pressed a button on my radio and spoke into it, "November three receiving."

"Where is your current location?"

"I'm on break."

"Okay, let me know once you are done. I need you to provide cover at the festival square entrance."

"Received."

It was my supervisor on the radio. A cool, level-headed dude.

"My name is Mohammed, but you can call me Mo," he had told me the first day we met.

I finished my break and headed to the entrance. There was a guy and a lady on door supervision duties. I didn't see Mo.

"November three to Delta one, " I said into the radio.

"Go ahead," he responded.

"I'm at the entrance."

"Okay. I'll be with you shortly."

Moments later, I watched as he walked towards me.

He nodded towards the guys at the entrance. "You will provide cover for them as they go on break, one after the other."

"Okay."

"However, I need I to keep an eye on the guy that just exited the building. He is wearing a grey hoodie, black jeans, and a black knapsack. You see him?"

I glanced briefly towards my left. "Yes."

"He is a suspected spiker. So if he tries to leave with any female or even a male, that looks really messed up, stop him and let me know at once."

"Okay. Will do."

"His call sign is Greyhound, if you have to radio in."

"Duly noted."

"Good," he nodded and walked away.

The guy at the entrance left for his break and I took over his position.

The suspected spiker stayed just outside the building, drinking and chatting with another guy and three ladies.

Soon afterwards he left the group and headed towards the festival square. I stopped him and checked his bag.

I nodded and he gave me a smile as he walked on by.

"November three to Delta one."

"Go ahead."

"Greyhound is now in the square "

"Good. I will tell the guys at the other entrance to be on the lookout for him."

"Received."

There was less pressure at the entrance, so I turned around to watch the performing act on stage.

I saw "Greyhound" walk into my line of sight as he headed to one of the bars in the festival square. He bought two pints of beer and walked back to a table where a lady was seated. He sat down beside her and placed a drink before her, while he drank the other.

I looked away as more people were lined up to come into the square.

About 15 minutes later, I looked around and I saw "Greyhound" help the lady up from the chair. Her legs wobbled as she stood up and she fell against him. He smiled and held her up. Then he placed her left hand across his shoulder and held her from the waist with his right hand.

I watched as they both slowly moved towards me. I turned away and spoke into the radio.

"November three to Delta one."

Silence.

"November three to Delta one."

Silence.

"November three to Control."

"Receiving," replied the control room.

"I'm trying to reach Delta one."

"Standby. He is dealing with a situation."

"Well, I have a situation here."

"What's your situation?"

"Greyhound has caught a rabbit."

"To all call signs, maintain radio silence. November three, please repeat your message slowly."

"Greyhound. Has. A. Rabbit."

"Okay, Delta one is his way. The response team will also be with you shortly. All call signs maintain radio silence until this situation is handled."

"Received," I responded.

I turned back just as "Greyhound and his rabbit" moved to within six feet of the exit.

I moved and stopped in front of them. "Is everything alright?"

Signed
Olumide Holloway (King Olulu).