I'm next to these two guys. One has a brown fitted sweater, and expensive-looking jeans on, he is a musician, but more on that later. The other has a striped button-up that is buttoned all the way up, but in a way that communicates a hip fashionista vibe, rather than a waspy serial killer vibe. This one is a truth-teller but more on that later. The musician, sitting down, is describing his composition technique. The truth-teller, standing, is shifting from foot to foot in a way that makes me think this monologue has been going on for a bit all while making the noises that humans make when they are engaged: grunts of affirmation, thoughtful repetitions of the last word the musician has said, the occasional drawn-out 'oooooh'. This breaks down slightly when the musician asks about the tracks he sent over to the truth-teller, "Did you listen to those songs I sent yet?" There is suddenly a long pause. This is the start of a call and response, it is a formula d
I’m next to this guy. He is sitting on a bench next to a crutch. He has unruly grey hair shoved under a faded baseball cap, several days of a beard, and his clothing is obviously well worn. He is asking folks that pass by if they can help out with some change. In turn, folks that pass by are deliberately not looking at him. I don't have any cash, but this ignoring-the-guy shit tugs on certain heartstrings. I do have the vaguest sketch of a conscience. So, when it’s my turn to turn him down, I look his way and say, “Sorry man, good luck though.” This angers the man, “Really dude,” he replies, “well I’ll tell you a secret. Karma is a bitch.” He then asks the next person for some change. I pass by, feeling weird. He wasn’t yelling at the people who ignored him, should I have just done that? I am unsure. I contemplate my route back from lunch and how best to cowardly avoid the street he is posted upon, and suddenly something bothers me. His karma curse doesn’t make