Shade
I was thinking about God today in a park, sitting at a table shaded by a weeping beech tree. The sun's bright orange peaked through the trees to the west. When the light sat ontop of the Western Ave. brownstones I met Reggie. Reggie is a dark black man. His lanky frame bore faded jeans, gray Timberland boats, a purple tee shirt under an open gray shirt. The lines that ran across his forehead crahed into his lopsided Florida Panthers cap. Reggie was with his shaggy brown and black colored dog, Walter. Walter didn't wear a collar, and although it seemed that Reggie had been drinking he was attentive to his companion, concerned where Walter had wandered when he was out of sight. Reggie passed by a few feet before me and took what he later told me was his spot on the low hanging tree. I belived it was his spot as he sank into the bend. He clutched a large can of unopened beer concealed by a brown paper bag. He had on women's sun glasses. Reggie told me that my sunglasses made me look like I was saying "fuck you" to him. I took them off and apologized. I felt bad about my sunglasses.
He put his leg up and across the thick branch, I asked where he was from. He told me he grew up in Gilbertown, Alabama. I told him I had recently heard of his town of about one thousand. Reggie asked me if I was playing around with him, like a toy. I had my camera next to me, and suddenly I had it in my hands. I thought he was going to take it as he approached nearer, looming over the table. He told me not to take his picture, "I like my privacy." I told him I wouldn't. He told me that the Patriot Act is bullshit, Bigbrother is slowly but surely taking our rights away. Reggie talked about racism, Jim Crow. I could see that something about me made him feel uncomfortable. He commented on the strangeness of a black man talking to a white kid. He made me uncomfortable. Clumsilily attempting to gain balance I told him that I was studying African History when He walked by. He also thought that was a funny thing. I told him "I opened the book, looked up, and there you were." Reggie half laughed and said "I'm not sure I should laugh at that." Reggie lowered his shades to reveal his powerful gaze. His light brown eyes told me he was no liar. His grandfather had been killed years ago for his land, when he was 12 years old a racist governor named Wallace came to power. I felt like he looked right through me, he was probablly looking at something behind me, I looked down. Reggie and I eventually said goodbye. I told him to have a good day. I watched him climb the hills calling to Walter. I put on my shades, the sun was setting right in my wide eyes.
He put his leg up and across the thick branch, I asked where he was from. He told me he grew up in Gilbertown, Alabama. I told him I had recently heard of his town of about one thousand. Reggie asked me if I was playing around with him, like a toy. I had my camera next to me, and suddenly I had it in my hands. I thought he was going to take it as he approached nearer, looming over the table. He told me not to take his picture, "I like my privacy." I told him I wouldn't. He told me that the Patriot Act is bullshit, Bigbrother is slowly but surely taking our rights away. Reggie talked about racism, Jim Crow. I could see that something about me made him feel uncomfortable. He commented on the strangeness of a black man talking to a white kid. He made me uncomfortable. Clumsilily attempting to gain balance I told him that I was studying African History when He walked by. He also thought that was a funny thing. I told him "I opened the book, looked up, and there you were." Reggie half laughed and said "I'm not sure I should laugh at that." Reggie lowered his shades to reveal his powerful gaze. His light brown eyes told me he was no liar. His grandfather had been killed years ago for his land, when he was 12 years old a racist governor named Wallace came to power. I felt like he looked right through me, he was probablly looking at something behind me, I looked down. Reggie and I eventually said goodbye. I told him to have a good day. I watched him climb the hills calling to Walter. I put on my shades, the sun was setting right in my wide eyes.