Just another day on the 18th Precinct, Psychology Division. There was a case already waiting for me when I got in at 8.30.
“Hey, LOO-tenant Vygotsky!”
“What’s up, Luria?”
“We got a guy in the cells sayin’ that cognitive development is not mediated by external representations of systems of signs but that, on the contrary, competence develops inside individuals according to a hierarchy of stages – or somethin’.”
Poor schmucks. One snort of the “Swiss whizz” and they’re outta their minds.
“Where’d they pick ’im up?”
“Out cold on the sidewalk on 14th Street.”
That figured. Jessop's Academic Bookstore, a regular pushers' joint.
“O.K., book ’im, Luria. Four-seventeen.”
“Ya don’t wanna see the guy??”
“Lader.”
So the judge’ll give ’im thirdy days and a week in de-tox. But once they’ve tasted the stuff they keep on going back. That’s the problem.
It’s tough being a cop in this Precinct, but I figure someone’s godda keep the streets safe for cognitive growth of understanding.