I was 5 or 6 years old. I'm not sure of the exact age, but I was very young. My mother had taken my brother and me to the health department. He was a year older.

For some unknown reason, my Mama left me in the waiting room while she took my brother in for his shot. One man's waiting room is another man's exit station. I took off out of the door. Not for me to meekly wait like a sacrifice to the Gawds of medicine.

My escape was not well thought out, but I was bound for the train station that was not far away. My aunt had taken me there not long before, and I knew it was a way out.

My legs weren't very long, but I was moving them very rapidly. When my Mama came out of the door after somebody had snitched on me, I had a decent head start. However, I could hear her catching up as she 'sweetly' called my name. I knew I had to change my plan.

I ducked into the nearest building which just happened to be the town's police station. Think one step up from Mayberry. I ran into an open office where several men were sitting around, and scooted around some man's legs and underneath his desk.

When I heard my Mama, I preceded to wrap myself around his legs and hold on for dear life. I decided that wailing at the top of my lungs might help in some way.

It took a while for my Mama to explain what was going on especially with me wailing about getting stuck like a pig. I was finally untangled and reluctantly released into her care. They made her promise not to punish me and made it clear they would check on me.

I got my vaccination, and my Mama muttered at me all day. I decided to play under the house with my cats where it would be hard to reach me.

I have had many shots since then. However, I have never had one as exciting and life-threatening.