Took a break from the shooting jets of a Waterpark to read my magazine and enjoy some shade. My kids and wife were off on their own wondering and I was happy for the moment of relative solitude.
Then a group of three stepped in front of me and within earshot. The adult woman was about 30 in my estimate and she was accompanied by two girls. The oldest of the pair could not be older than 10. The mom/aunt/family friend was requesting they pose for a phone and the girls acquiesced in that way kids do when they know
Man on a Bike
The man straddled a weathered old bicycle at the southern corner of the open lot that rests on Azusa Avenue and Manila Way. The grounds, green and lush of taller weeds surrounded the man and turned him into an island in contrast to the greenery. He was wolfing down fries that he was grabbing from the greasy brown paper bag in his hands and every so often one would fall to the ground and disappear. His torn hoodie-sweater looked damp and clung to his fail frame and his jeans were stained at his thighs. It looked like he had been using his wears as napkins and all those wipes had become permanent on the pants. More fries fell to ground as he finished his hurried meal and I felt bad for this lonely man with the greasy pants, hands and beard. With the bag crumpled and the kickstand flicked up he began his pedaling and started to cross the street paying no mind to the traffic who had no patience for him.
Then out of the weed field the tiniest Chihuahua I
Men on the Metro
Two men walked onto the Metro and that’s when I entered their story.
They sat across my sleeping boy and I. In their sack the carried Vodka and so were careful when they put it down on the train floor. They argued in hushed tones and one implied feeling sick. I couldn’t help looking at his cracked lips as he said so. He was soon sleep and this left his fellow traveler with red eyes and sporting a clinic’s bracelet to stare about the cabin for a while.
We left each other’s gaze at about Downtown LA and what will become of them I do not know.
Guiding Light
After picking up some dry cleaning and making my way to my truck a very tall and quite muscular young black man and a companion walked towards me. He seemed lost in thought and didn’t seem to notice he was in my direct path. As we neared one another he was tugged forcefully by his UCR Blue shirt and in a second snapped by into reality. He apologized to me and with a smile I told him not to mention it. As his much shorter mom and him walked on I overheard her scolding him to pay more attention and he gave out a respectful acknowledgment.
That’s the power of good Moms I suppose