UNC Student Organization for Undergraduate Literature

Today, two cops escorted my friend and me from the roof of Hamilton Hall, which is accessible by a small, unlocked, unmarked door in the ceiling of the top floor. The view from the roof is incredible. The sensation of windy freedom, exhilarating.

I have created this picture to illustrate my perception of the police officers descending on our innocent fun. One moment, we were standing together near the far edge of the roof. The next moment, I was turning and saying, somehow very serenely, "Now there are two cops coming."

Gia said, "Yup." She walked towards them. I started to put my coat on, to pick up my backpack and purse. I overheard some of Gia's conversation with the first officer--a portly African American man accompanied by a prepubescent rat. Gia said, "There wasn't a sign."

The former officer said, "If there was a cliff and there wasn't a sign that said 'Don't jump,' would you jump?"

"I'm a cliff diver," Gia said, "so yeah, I would."

"Well," said the officer. He stood with his hands on the limits of the great orbit of his hips and said, "now... you're... a roof-getter-offer."

"Yup," Gia said.

"Whatcha' doing?" said the prepubescent rat to me as I approached, slowly and with caution.

"You guys need to lock this door," I said, "because I know people who come up here all the time."

"Well," said the rat, "you're just the unlucky ones who did it while we were having an event at the pit."

I hope everyone enjoys this picture. It represents the extremity of my artistic abilities.