Central Park…first light
As I’m cantering up Harlem Hill, otherwise known as Hamilton Heights, since it’s Alexander Hamilton’s old neighborhood, I see a young boy perched on the grass, elbows resting on his knees, selling bottled water.
His cardboard sign reads…1 dolla got ice if you wan it
Suddenly a police car pulls up, one of the little ones that resemble a golf cart, a young Asian fellow at the wheel.
I slow up to watch.
He calls the kid over to the window. They speak, then the kid goes back to get his wallet from his backpack.
In 12 Step they teach you…there’s three kinds of business…my business, your business and what’s not my business.
Well, as I’ve said before, this is a deal breaker when it comes to the welfare of a child, the elderly or an animal.
I step over to the patrol car.
“Officer, good morning. Tell me please, is this young man in trouble?” The kid looks up sheepishly before going back to his perch.
The cop immediately becomes defensive. “What’s it to you?”
I know I have to be smarter than he is since his asshole brights are blinding my good senses.
She breathes before answering.
“I see he’s trying to make a few dollars, and to be quite honest, I admire him for it. He’s just a kid after all.”
15 if he were a day.
“You can’t sell anything in the Park without a permit.”
Did I mention it’s no later than 6:30 A.M.?
“I understand. Of course you’re right, but he’s not in any serious trouble now is he?”
“He’s getting a warning, and if you’re so concerned, why don’t you dig in your pocket and help him out.”
Temper Susannah….TEMPER.
To be honest, I haven’t any cash and I doubt (I smile as I say this) he takes Visa. And also, it doesn’t look to me that he wants a handout. He’s legitimately selling water for a dollar. Yeah I know, without a permit, but still…there’s something noble about it, don’t you think Officer?”
He mulls this over as we both watch the kid pack up his cooler now on wheels.
“Imagine having to sell anything, for lunch money maybe. Could be me or you.”
“That’s why he only got a warning.”
His tone, so cold, I choose to ignore before taking flight.
I abruptly turn back, then think better of it.
I was all set to say, a young man a week or so ago hung himself off one of the bridges, but a little voice stops me knowing how upsetting it is to hear about it, even if Officer Asshole already knows.
Instead, I watch the kid wheel his water out of the Park, carrying his sign under his arm now upside down that reads…
1 dolla got ice if you wan it.
God blessing the child who has his own.
SB
Susannah, as I read that the officer pulled up, I was hoping you were going to say that he bought a bottle. it seems like there would be so many bigger fish to fry.
Based on his sign, the poor kid obviously hasn’t had a good education and therefore might have trouble getting decent employment. It sounds like he’s trying to make an honest dollar and hopefully won’t succumb to the allure of fast drug money.
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Oh the heartache.
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You mean the last part? Yeah. Luckily I didn’t see it…missed it though only because I took a different route home. Something I rarely do. sigh
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His asshole lights were blindingly bright. Honestly.would it have killed him to buy a bottle and tell him to be outta there by, I dunno, 7:30-8:00?
What a schmuck of the highest order.
I do understand that there would be a mess if everyone and their brother was allowed to sell willy-nilly sans permit but…
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I’m with you. He was like a stalk of black corn so tall and gangly. God only knows what his home life is like. It’s the old…I’d rather be right than kind. That cop really let me down with his lack of humanity. Thanks for reading. I don’t imagine it will be a popular post.
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God only knows. If you are out there at six a.m. selling water, things are not all that easy…
Lack of humanity is a disease lately.
I dunno about it being popular or not; I don’t see why others won’t be like me and empathize with you///
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It’s a bit long. I find the attention span of most of my readers, the few I have, is pretty short. Blog life. sigh
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Nah… it’s not that long I assure you. I know what you mean about attention spans, though.
I always worry about the TL,DR thing. But then I figure, those who will, will and those who won’t, don’t.
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True. I try to edit before I post, but there’s so much you can take out without splicing and slicing too much.
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There are no complaints from this reader…😊
You write so well.
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You and Mr. Imma have become a little biased, but that’s okay. I sparkle in it though quietly. 🙂
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Mayhaps… though I think not. I dont follow just willy-nilly
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Willy-nilly. That was one of Bill Hick’s favorite words I haven’t heard in a long, long time…sigh
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There must be a reason I’ve come along…
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No accidents.
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True ’nuff.
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SB,
You would think the cop would have better things to do than to harass an enterprising young man like this. But of course not. And it astounds me, really. When the options are really pretty simple for the men in blue. If he’d purchased a couple bottles of water, he just engendered some goodwill with the kid. It would have been that easy.
Alas, this is my naivete getting all dressed up with no place to go. Sadly.
You always paint a vivid picture, fiery and robust.
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Love the term…enterprising…and your…naivete getting all gussied up with no where to go. sigh
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Glad you like. 🙂
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Having raised four sons I empathize here. The officer could’ve overlooked the law breaking but he didn’t. Could be he was afraid someone would tattle on him…who is to know at that early hour? Feel sorry for the boy…that’s what our present society has done for us. Tried taking the heart out of humanity…thankfully there remains a slew of kind hearts to help out…when they wisely choose. God help us have kind, generous, loving hearts. Yes, yes.
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Like the phrase, not the sentiment though, of taking the heart out of humanity. That about says it.
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How sad! I hope the young man understood that a total stranger wanted to help him.
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He probably was chased before, just by another cop who didn’t catch him. It was so early and he probably figured he was safe…he’d sell to a few runners and then be on his way.
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One of those, if one can, then…
See, for instance, no one can burn trash in our community – safety reasons as it is a town and a strong tree area. So, everyone gets in trouble who burns trash, no matter why. I admit the officer was rather gruff, but, I do understand the point – if he allows the kid, then all will soon be doing it and the park will become a mess. I do see your point, but…it’s unfortunate…I wonder how much a license would have been? I bet more that all his water was worth.
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Licenses for anything like that are steep. I still think his efforts were better than stealing, which many kids in that neck of the woods tend to do. Lack reigns, so they get their needs met not usually by selling water, if you know what I mean.
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I do understand.
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Blood sweat and tears seems so very appropriate.
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Like a Spinning Wheel.
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I both admire someone that young with entrepreneurial instincts like that and feel bad he has to sell water. My wife and I were talking today about kids in school who get in trouble for selling things and we both agreed it was admirable of them for taking the initiative to start a small business like that.
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A small business indeed. Things that should be celebrated often are not. Kids have it rough these days figuring out the right way to go. I have great empathy, as you do.
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Maybe the cop was just doing what he is paid to do but I wonder if he has ever been hungry and with no one to give him food? Maybe your conversation will give him new eyes…and heart…to see the city he patrols.
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Arrogance has no wiggle room, I’m afraid. he was in his 30s, young and strapping, with authority more than I’d say, regard for the law. The kid was so innocent. Think Huck Finn as a kid of color. sigh
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