Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Apprentice Punk

It happened a few months ago. I was walking across a parking lot in the middle of the day. My path took me near a youth, maybe eighteen, not very imposing. As I drew near, he muttered something. I looked around, thinking he might be talking to someone behind me. No one. So I turned back to the kid and said, "What?"

"G'meadolla."

It took me a moment to translate. "You want me to give you a dollar?"

"Yeh. Gi' me a dolla."

I looked around again, to make absolutely sure he was talking to me, and to see if any friends of his might be showing up. Still nobody.

Furrowed brow. "Why should I give you a dollar?"

This was his cue to produce a weapon, or a threat—in which case he would have gotten his dollar—but he did nothing.

I detoured slightly to get around him and went about my business.

So the kid got his feet wet. This may have been his first attempt at thuggery, and while he didn't get his dollar, the experience was relatively painless. Next time he'll be ready to back up his request. Maybe he'll elaborate: "Heh, I need a dolla to get a taco." Maybe he'll start carrying a knife. Maybe he'll bring friends.

But I'll be better prepared too. Of course, the main option will be to fork over the dollar (or whatever amount he requests). But I've got another idea that may work:

"G'meadolla."

"Kid, where do you live? I need to talk to your mama about you asking strangers for money."

Yeah, that might throw him.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Coincidence #6

The last three films I've watched are Catherine Breillat's 2009 retelling of Bluebeard; Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, a mostly unsuccessful comedy from 2006 that has Albert Brooks traveling (via Air India) to India and Pakistan to find out what makes Muslims laugh; and the 1962 French thriller Le combat dans l'île.

The thriller included a shot of an Air India jet and a mention of Bluebeard. Which is mildly cool.