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Present is the Past

by Steven Diggs Jr.

I'm here all alone, but only in a physical state. Wherever I go, I feel other people. The people that were here before me. I could tell that lots of people were with me when I went to heavily dense areas so I was never really alone. When I would go to a restaurant, I found out if the food was bad or good sometimes based on the voices. It can be a horrible burden as the voices can overrun me. And sometimes it could be a great way to understand certain things.

Washington D.C., where I was at recently, was a perfect example. The voices smacked my head like a bullet that never slowed down. I went to all the major monuments that one would go to while at the nation's capital. All the memorials, museums, and art exhibits that a mere mortal could handle in one day. It was a crazy day. Obviously, the voices were all over these places. Many of these places date back to one hundred years or older. So there were a lot of voices, much more than most of the U.S. That's not even including the ground itself. While walking around the National Mall, it was horrendous trying to think. The voices of millions of tourists from the years upon years built up and almost destroyed me.

"Look at that?" one voice said. That doesn't sound so bad by itself, but trust me, it got much worse when multiplied. And I don't mean multiplied by a single digit number. I mean by a number with an exponent. Constant attack of voices talking about the size of the Washington Monument looked from the Mall made me want to drive myself insane. I had to go lay down. I didn't make it far as my brain lost all of its juice so I crashed against a tree on the edge of the Mall.

"The Washington Monument is staring at a giant phallic statue," a voice said from what had to be an eight-year college student; the kind of college student that lived off campus just so they can party all of the time. It was disgusting and rude, and worst of all, it woke me up. I really hate these kind of guys. Did they really think they're funny when I was in class with them? I think I heard another guy laugh afterwards, but it was hard to hear since I was groggy. Stupid college losers. I could not believe that they came to see these monuments. To them, they are nothing but excuses to make jokes about organs. I walked over to the Washington Monument, which I figured would be less of a hassle then lot of places. And was I wrong. I've heard of lines, but this was the Maharaja of lines. It was the slowest ever. And with long lines, means one horrible thing for me, lots of chatter. And this chatter can range from anything possible. The Monument has been open since 1888 so there was over one-hundred years of chatter to hear.

"I really hope Grover Cleveland wins the election," a male voice said. That had to be from the 1888 election. I didn't think people talked about Grover Cleveland in this century. Or last century for that matter.

"Oh, yes," another voice said. I chuckled. Two middle aged women with small female mustaches turned around and looked at me. I wasn't laughing at them. I was laughing at the outcome of the 1888 election. It was only one of three times that a President won the Popular vote, but lost due to the electoral college. Benjamin Harrison beat Grover Cleveland by sixty-five electoral votes even though Cleveland had almost one hundred thousand more votes than Harrison. Crazy. Started making me think of the crazy 2000 election. It made me laugh again. To think that we still have the electoral college now. What a joke.

"What is that?" a voice said in my ear as I look at the Washington Monument. It had to be from a child. I believe a boy. It had that little creaking sound you hear when you are at the park and they are playing tag or going down the slide.

"It's dedicated to America's first President," I could hear. That's not entirely true. John Hanson was the President under the Articles of Confederation. I wish I was there to tell the little boy that. Everyone needed to be informed.

"Don't lie," I said out loud. A few people turned and looked at me. Strange site. Me, by myself, randomly yelling out loud. They must have thought I'm one of the hobos that live around here. One of the forgotten Vietnam Vets. I heard what they say when they are here too. It was especially insane at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

"Damn people forgetting about us. We have a damn monument, but that won't help me," a voice said as I ran my hands across the wall. With each name, came cries and agony. Touching Cal Thompson, a surprising voice can be heard.

"Please remember them," a female voice said. I almost saw these people at the wall. Their voices seemed to come from people that I am looking at rubbing their loved ones names on a piece of paper with a pencil. Their mouths though, weren't moving.

"Please," another voice said. Sounds like they are related. Seemed really passionate. It's a shame more people haven't listen to them. I went to the Lincoln Memorial to try and relax. However, his monument was about a very controversial time of our history: The Civil War. A lot of the South calls it the War of Northern Aggression.  Some people believe that Lincoln was attacking a sovereign nation. However, he was a great President and did something about the slavery problem that plagued our society.

"Look at that smirk he has," a teenage voice said. I started shaking my head. A woman from far off caught this and started taking it the wrong way. She must have thought I was losing my mind. Her face looked puzzled.

"What does he think he's doing?" another voice said. What does that mean? He's sitting in a dignified stance. He did something that only that voice could only think about doing. Actually, that's probably too much even for him.

"It looks like he's taking a crap," the first voice said again. Why can't they be respectful. My eyes became large and my teeth grinded together.

"Are you okay?" a young woman said to me. I barely heard her over the two stupid teens. Why would they act like this? They have to be young. No older person would act like this. The woman got closer and closer as she noticed that I'm staring off into what seemed like an acid trip. She stood there as I continue to listen to the stupid teens bantering.

"Yes, I'm fine," I said. I sure didn't look it. My fists clenched and my head was slowly turning red. She must have thought I was rude. I said it in the worst possible way I could. I even yelled it a little. What was I supposed to say? Tell her I can hear voices? I'm sure that'll make her leave. If anything I knew that it would make it worse. There was no way that I was going to say that though. I made that mistake a few years back. I said that to someone when I told them that I didn't want to hear from them again. My girlfriend turned around and thought I was talking to her. I told her about the voices that I heard, but that made it worse. She tried to get me checked into a mental hospital.

"What a dumb position," the voice said again. I sighed as the female turned around. By this time, you would think that I knew what she looked like. However, those stupid voices kept me form thinking about anything else. I saw two old African-American men playing trumpets at the end of the sidewalk. Sounded like an old battle tune with a lot of high pitch sounds. Not sure what it was though. They're playing to honor the fallen. Couldn't really tell what the song was.

"Look at this. How stupid of a monument. He's just overlooking on a seat. Not a great pose," the voice said again. I hope someone slapped him.

"It's a great pose," I said out loud. The woman stopped and turned around. I figured she thought I was having a heart attack as quick as she turned around. It was kind of funny, really. She rushed towards me with her hand out like she was about to support. I wasn't hurt, but she made me feel like it.

"What are you talking about?" she said. "Are you sure you are okay?" My neck snapped back in shock. She put her hand on my back. I guess she was thinking I was going to fall over. I thought she was insane.

"I have Tourette's ma'am," I said. I needed something quick. I didn't like doing that, but I didn't want her around. She was so annoying. I hate when people are really helpful in certain situations. It's too unnatural.

"Oh, sorry," she said. I stepped back again. She didn't follow me. Thank god. I just wanted her to get away. I was really embarrassed by this time as a lot of people were looking at us. A little girl pointed at me. That was the worst of it all. Then suddenly, I heard an amazing voice. It wasn't clear, but I looked up to see if I could find out where it was. I wanted to hear more of it.

"Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation," another voice said. I knew I've heard that form somewhere. That's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It's from his "I Have a Dream" speech. I forgot that the speech was right here at the Lincoln Memorial. I couldn't believe I forgot that.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed," Dr. King said. Walking away from the lady like I was in a trance, I just wanted to be by myself. The sound of Dr. King's voice really put me in awe. "We hold these truths to be self-evident." The strength of those words were so amazing from him. I've seen the speech plenty of times on TV and the Internet, but nothing was like what I heard then. It was like I was transplanted back to 1963 and was hearing it live and in person. I went and sat down on the steps of the memorial thinking about that moment and how great it would have been to be there.

"Are you sure you are okay?" the woman said again. I almost didn't realize she was there as the speech put me into another dimension.

"I'm feeling the best ever," I said.

"The sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood," Dr. King said. I imagined seeing the back of his head as well as the other people that stood around him during this important event. I didn't see what the world looked like now. I saw what it looked like then. The speech continued on as I sat there. "Free at last! Free at last!" I couldn't believe it. This was amazing. It was the best time I've ever had with my special hearing ability. For the first time, it felt like more of a godsend than a curse.