Words of Wisdom

I was just standing there. Waiting for the light to turn green. Within seconds, a fast-forward slow motion, the sky had turned black. I still stood there, waiting. The roar of the L fired behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to see if anyone else was waiting at that dingy street corner covered in flat white gum splotches and littered Employment Today! ads. A man was there�pacing back and forth. His coat was a size too big, and he wore a scarf around his head to protect him from the wind-y city. The man pushed a shopping cart filled with cans, faded newspapers, and other street memorabilia. He pushed his cart toward me. I could hear the repeating squeal of one broken wheel inching closer. Closer. I turned back to the street, bracing myself. Head erect, I pulled my Sociology Today textbook closer to my chest and held my breath. He stood only a few feet from me and I could smell him�sweat and cigarettes. I kept my eyes fixated on the traffic light, counting the seconds. It turned yellow. Almost there. I watched him from a sideways glance. He parked his cart. Bent down, reached for an employment ad, and put it in his cart. He continued to push his cart down the street until I could no longer smell anything except the exhaust from a sputtering rusted Pinto. The light had since turned green and I crossed the street.

Saturday with the Proletariat