EXCERPT FROM "EVERYDAY WALKIN' BLUES"
Posted Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003
http://blogs.lawrence.com/murderama
The morning clouds have dissolved into puddles of sulfur. I wander along the main drag, fumbling with the change in my pocket. The day comes on around me, uncaring.
A raggedly looking young man falls into step beside me. I quicken my pace, hoping to avoid conversation, but he speeds up to match my gait.
"Hey, dude," he whistles between his gums. "Hey, bro hold on."
A flashing red light holds us at the crosswalk. The two of us are stuck together, watching cars zip through the intersection. I lean out as far as I can without falling into the street.
The kid picks a scab from behind his ear. "Don't I know you from around?"
"I don't see how."
"No, I know you... Aren't you in a band?"
"Fuck, no. I don't like music."
"Really? I coulda swore you were in a band. You look like that one guy..."
"Yeah, I look like a lot of guys."
"Oh."
The traffic thins out enough for me to make it across. I hold on to my hat and step away from the curb.
The kid shouts after me, desperate: "Hey! You got a smoke for me, bro?"
thursday, october 30.2003
12 jayplay