The Tables Get Turned

See this guy in the alley behind the Starbucks all the time.  And he let me interview him, but turned it around really quick.  He interviewed ME instead.  Well, it was bound to happen, and I probably deserved it.  And, to top it off, he got half a pack of  cigarettes from me.

Me:  Can I interview you?

David:  You a fed?

Me:  Do I look like a fed?

David: I guess not.  You got weed?

Me:  No.

David:  What about cigarettes?

Me:  Hold on.  I got some in my car.

(time passes)

Me:  Here ya go.

David:  Thank you.

Me:  You’re makin’ me want a burger…you got a whole set up here, you don’t get in trouble?  The police don’t bug you?

David:  Nah.

Me:  Didn’t you used to be over there? (I point to the dumpster across the lot)

David:  Yeah.

Me:  Did you move ‘cause it is too hot? (the dumpster is in the sun)

David:  No, they move us …sometimes they move us at 4:30 in the morning.  Where you from?

Me:  Oklahoma.

David:  Yeah, I’ve spent some time in Tulsa.

Me:  What were you doin’ in Tulsa?

David:  I got some friends there.

Me:  You like it?

David:  No. (HAHAHA!!!!)

Me:  I’m from Oklahoma City.  These are good pictures.

David:  What are you gonna do with it?

Me:  Well, I got this website I’m doing and I’m writing about people in the neighborhood…like, I got this neighbors, their actresses and people at the Starbucks are letting me film them and write about them…our neighborhood is kinda crazy.

David:  You oughta go to skid row.  Why don’t you go there? (see, he’s already fucking with me)

Me:  No, I wouldn’t.

David:  No one would bother you.

Me:  You don’t think so?

David:  Why won’t you go?

Me:   ‘Cause I’m a chick, I’d be scared they’d bother me.

David:  You’d feel outta place? (he’s really good)

Me:  Yeah.

David:  Nah, you just have to carry yourself right.

Me:  How do I carry myself?  (he smiles, but won’t answer.  I notice videos in an ice cooler) Hey, you got a lot of videos.

David:  You wanna buy one?

Me:  Nah.  Where’d you get em?  Wait…don’t answer that.

David:   I… (smiles) found ‘em.

Me:  What was your name?

David:  David.

Me:  Maya.

David:  You got family out here?

Me:  No, just my husband.  My parents are in Philadelphia.

David:  You been to Chicago?

Me:  Yeah.

David:  I’m a Chicago boy.

Me:  It’s cold in Chicago.  (another guy walks over) Well thanks, I appreciate this.

David:  Sure.

Me:  Hey, is this your friend?

David:  Yeah, I know him.

Me:  Is all is stuff yours?

David:  Nah.  I run a storage.

Me:  You run a storage?

David:  Yeah, come over if you need storage services.  (laughter)

Me:  ‘Kay.  Thank you.

David:  Take care.