making a large money withdrawal from the bank

the bank manager

comes over

to me, as i stand at the teller

with my ID

and withdrawal slip

of paper

and asks

why do i need

to withdraw, in cash,

thirty-six hundred dollars

from my checking account.

i tell him

it's to bail someone out of jail.

a sibling

who decided to no longer

pay his child support.

i explain to the manager

that they

only accept cash

in the machine

where the bail office is.

so i need cash, in large bills.

he takes me

to his office and wants

a more thorough

explanation for my sudden 

withdrawal

of my own money.

we're used to you putting money

into our bank,

and rarely taking

any out, he says, tapping

his pen against

his desk.

this is all very suspicious.

he calls security and two men

in uniform arrive.

they stand by

at the door, hands on their guns,

waiting to hear

my explanation.

don't worry, they say to me.

stay calm

and remain seated.

you're just being

detained, not arrested, at

least not yet.

put your hands where we can

see them.