What are you doing, man? Loitering?

Why? Is this your corner?

Nah, I don’t deal. Just curious, You look so out of it.

I’m meditating.

Mediwhatting?

You know—clearing my mind and focusing on nothingness.

Nothingness—you hungry?

Nah, It’s kind of like free tripping.

You a Hari Kristie?

It’s Hari Krishna and no, I’m not one of those.

Well what are ya?

Just a poor dumb shit with nothing better to do than seek enlightenment.  What are you?

Well, I was looking for a little action.

You do deal! What gang do you run with?

Not!

Well what then?

Oooh  oooh  oooh, stayin’ alive.

You a rapper!  Rap me somethin’.

Nah, I’m just tryin’ to keep from spitting on the sidewalk and getting shot.

They after you?

Not yet. You don’t see me spitting on the sidewalk, do ya?

Well, that’s cool. Black Lives Matter.

I wish.

Yeah… Any protests around here?

You new  or sumpthink?

Yeah – ‘bout a week.

They’s a march on Main  Saturday night.  Legit.

I know—you don’t spit on sidewalks.

You got that right, my man.

Do you think they’d shoot me for meditating?

I dunno. It’d sho’ make CNN if they did.

You start like this:   Ommmmmmmmm….                                                                                                      Nan