How This Whole Thing Started
I was cleaning my grandpa’s attic last Sunday when this dusty old book fell right on my head. Had Mao’s red star on the cover. Figured what the hell, flipped it open to a page screaming “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” Knocked me sideways – thought guns just went bang.
Grabbed my notebook like always when stuff clicks weird. Started scribbling how this applies today. Noticed at Tim’s hardware store where I help weekends – Tommy the stock boy always jumping when boss snaps fingers. Why? Boss signs Tommy’s paycheck. Same as barrel pressure.
What I Actually Did
Tuesday I set up this dumb experiment:
- First watched my nephew’s middle school debate club election. Kid with biggest candy stash won class president. Didn’t promise better policies – just handed out Snickers.
- Then crashed local neighborhood watch meeting. Mrs. Henderson runs it ’cause she’s got CCTV cameras covering entire block. Folks listen when you control the eyes.
- Last visited city hall about potholes. Clerk ignored me until Councilman Davies walked in wearing “Re-Elect Me” pin. Suddenly asphalt magically appeared on repair schedule.
All three times recorded voice memos on my phone. Kept nodding like “yep, barrel power ain’t just bullets.”
3 Things That Hit Me
After replaying those tapes Thursday night drinking cheap beer:
1) Real rule isn’t laws or speeches – it’s whatever makes people flinch. Tommy flinches at paycheck loss. Kids drool over candy. My tires flinch at potholes.
2) Modern barrels ain’t metal – they’re anything that twists arms. Paychecks. Surveillance. Even Snickers bars if you’re twelve.
3) Scariest part? When barrel-power hides behind smiles. Councilman Davies shaking hands while road crew appears magically? That’s polished steel right there.
Wrapping It Up
Finished the notebook pages covered in coffee stains and doodles. Left that dusty book in attic – truth is way livelier crawling around my town than dead paper. Might seem obvious now, but damn if that attic thump didn’t rearrange my brain.
