Carthage

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October 15, 2002

Blogging for a better tomorrow

Today while leaving Cala Foods I got asked for change by a ubiquitous street person. I declined in my usual manner, by shyly shaking my head while walking and half-smiling, in an attempt to communicate through mime my disinclination to part with my cash even though later my suburban white guilt would give me no rest. A few steps away I glanced back over my shoulder at the guy. Sure enough, he was Fred Abramson, this kid I grew up with whose parents are best friends with my parents. The last time I saw Fred he was all cologne and cynical wisdom and big pretty eyes. Oh, and rich. Why would Fred need my spare change, I wondered?

Noticing that I had been standing directly in front of him and staring at him, Fred stood up and raised his eyebrows. "Take off your hat," I said, wanting to see his face better and, as always, incredibly rude. (Somewhere in my teens I decided that being rude to everyone without prejudice was just as valid as being polite to everyone. Unfortunately, this belief sort of stuck. Sorry about that.) He took off his hat.

"My hair's all messed up," he said, looking self-conscious and rubbing his hair. I found this incredibly cute. Here he is begging for change and he's worried about whether I'll like his hair.

It occurs to me that this story would be better if the kid really had been Fred. But of course he wasn't; Fred's all studious and lives in the Haight and is, more to the point, not homeless. It was just an eerie resemblance. So where was I going with this? I think it was just homework avoidance.

Well, back to my essay.

Posted by didofoot at October 15, 2002 05:14 PM

Comments

soooo after you forced him to strip in front of you, did you then give him any change?

Posted by: michele at October 15, 2002 06:00 PM

my exact quastion.

Even better: had it been Fred, would you have given him change?

Posted by: danny at October 15, 2002 07:41 PM

i gave him exactly nothing. what, i'm going to give money to a stranger?

if it had been fred i would have asked to borrow a hundred dollars.

Posted by: didofoot at October 16, 2002 08:41 AM

Once, I was filing papers at the Concord Housing Authority, circa senior year of high school, and found one Lindsay Slater,
anyone remember Lindsay? Big mouth, ratted hair, semi-popular?
plus 18-month child, in my stack of indifferent names waiting for Section 8 vouchers.

I tried to file hers in front.

Posted by: not really doing my part for the fallen queen at October 16, 2002 08:43 AM

Oh Kristen,
You are so funny. Will you be even funnier when you turn 23? I can't bear it!

Posted by: tracy at October 16, 2002 09:22 AM

when I turn 23 I intend to become very serious and watch a lot of black and white documentaries about artists who make existentialist sculptures out of car parts in the middle of montana.

so enjoy it today.

Posted by: didofoot at October 16, 2002 09:27 AM

'existentialist' and 'montana' in the same sentence? obviously ms. didofoot did not grow up in montana like some of us. umm, ok, like me.

Posted by: erica at October 16, 2002 03:01 PM

i guess YOU will have to make these documentaries for me to watch, mizz d. after all, you're old and serious now too.

it's almost my birthday! i should be studying! argh!

Posted by: didofoot at October 16, 2002 06:28 PM

happy birthday happy birthday, happy happy happy hap;
happy birthday happy birthday, happy happy happy hap;
happy birthday in an hour.5 when i will be asleep;
happy birthday to my oldest friend, and many more, meep meep!

Posted by: and by oldest i mean longest continuous run on the katie show at October 16, 2002 10:22 PM

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