Lithus and I have started collecting stories from the streets of the Quarter. In one single night, we were captivated by...
* the weeping woman sitting on the sidewalk with the obviously frustrated and over it man standing over her whispering "look, I really don't care; come on already"
* the (possibly) drunk reader arguing with the (definitely) drunk musician about how this is her corner and he has set up too close to her and his music is keeping her from being able to hear (???) her readings properly (which kind of makes sense and kind of doesn't)
* the handful of locals who passed us and exchanged the "locals' nod", which makes me feel really good
* the plethora of people our age and older, dressed to the Nines and staggering anyway
* the young man leaning on one of the lightposts here in the Alley, muttering "I just need food. If I could just eat something" but being far too drunk to make that possible right now
* the group of guys who were crossing against the light, coming toward me (it went like this)
Leader (to car not stopping): Are you gonna stop? Are you gonna stop? Jeez assho...
Me (crossing behind the car, pointing to the green light we are all crossing against: He's got the green light, dude.
Leader (to car): Nevermind!!!! I'm the asshole, not you!
Leader's Friend (to me): He's car-blind! How can you be so mean?
Leader (to no one in particular): I thought it was a stop sign! I'm the asshole here!
* the man stumbling around, holding an unlit cigarette muttering. It went like this:
Drunken Guy: Anybody got a light? Anybody got a light? (stumbles a lot and gets ignored) Anybody got a light?
Good Samaritan: Yeah, dude, I got a light. (lights DG's cigarette)
Drunken Guy: Got a dollar?
Classic! And this was all just on a late-night run to the grocery store. God, I love my town.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
3 comments:
I hate to say it, I wouldn't last more than an hour. I have lost my ability to move anonymously through crowds and to ignore or appropriately respond to drunken guy.
GOML! ~ It takes me a couple of days to adjust when we get back from the bush, or even just small towns. I can only imagine the culture shock you must go through any more!
Can't wait to visit. (And this is a whole chapter's worth of material...)
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