Overheard in New York:
True Story:
"Yo, you remember when that joint used to be a pizzeria with the oldschool Pac-Man machine? I used to get my ass whooped in that game everyday after school by the high school kids. That shit closed down when we were still in middle school and they turned it into that Chinese Restaurant, remember? I think it was some kind of bodega after that. It's closed again now. Honestly, I hope it re-opens as a PopEyes. I know my whole building's going to smell like chicken, but I don't even care. It'd be worth it. I doubt they'll put in a PopEyes, though. That shit's gonna attract the wrong crowds of people, know what I mean? The old neighborhood's madd different now. They really fixed it up. You ever get looked at like you don't even belong there anymore?"
"Nah, whatchyu mean?"
"I'm just sayin', sometimes the people in my building see me and they'll just stop and look at me like I ain't supposed to be there or somethin'. I'm like 'shit, I been here since I was born in Harlem Hospital.' They lookin' at me like I'm the stranger. I'm tellin' you, shit's madd different now. They got potted plants in the hallways! Remember when we used to fuck around with all the bums that used to sleep in the halls? And all the coke addicts? Man, times was crazy. All that shit's gone now. Now we got potted plants."
"Oh yeah, I remember. Man, we was stupid kids. Just two stupid kids livin' in one of the country's most fucked up neighborhoods. Shit, we grew up in hell. Now we got potted plants in our hallways and we both sittin' in a college classroom. Look's like we're movin' on up, Ritchie. Haha! Who woulda guessed?"
"Right? That's what I'm sayin'. But I ain't never asked for that shit. We movin' on up, and they still won't put a PopEyes in my building? That's a problem."
"Nahh, kid. It's all about perspective."
"Naw. Naw. Naw. Hell is still hell, no matter how many potted plants they put in it."