david taus

A Conversation over Udon

music: Trojan dub boxed set vol. 2

I was at the Super 88 food court sitting over a bowl of Udon for lunch today. I was tired. I was keeping to myself, not trying to bother anyone, and yet I managed to have quite a remarkable interaction without really trying. Rare is it in the city that someone comes up to you out of the blue and strikes up conversation for no special reason. So rare, in fact, that I get suspicious when it happens. But from what I can tell, everything about my conversation over Udon was genuine. It takes a certain type of person to do this. Mentally ill. Or Lonely. Or young enough to not understand the social norms of city living. The whole interaction went something like this:

a thin boy in a Lakers hat and puffy winter jacket awkward shuffles over to me. He looks about 10 years old. I realize he’s looking at me. He sits down at my table and smiles at me for five or so seconds. I nod at him, acknowledging that he is, in fact, sharing a table with me.

-You like my walk?
-what?
-You know, my walk? It was pimpin’.
-I don’t know about that…
-Sure it was. All the ladies love it.
-I think you are just imitating what you watch on TV. And that people don’t really walk like that.
-You gotta be real, you know?
-I’m trying. But is that walk you’ve been doing real?
-I think that you have to be true to yourself and ain’t nobody tell you how you should act.
-Well if the walk is really you, then keep on walking.
-How’s that soup?
-It’s ok. Nice on a cold day.
-I’m on a mission.
-What sort of mission?
-I’m gonna get a quarter.
-How are you going to do that?
-Dunno. Maybe collect cans.
-Where are you going to look for cans?
-In the dumpster.
-Sometimes people leave their cans outside the trash barrels so other people have an easier time picking them up.
-Really? Where is that?
-I’ve seen it in Central Square a lot…
-But I bet they go quick.
-Yeah. You have to be fast.
-Oh, I’m fast.
-What’s your name?
-T-Money.
-What’s your real name?
-Travis.
-Nice to meet you Travis. I’m David.
-Nice to meet you.

we shake hands

-So what are you up to these days, Travis?
-You know, playing video games…
-Why do you want to do that?
-Are you over 18?
-I’m 25.
-So you must be graduated from college.
-Sure.
-So you don’t play video games?
-Not so much. But I used to. What else do you like to do besides play video games?
-Do math.
-That’s pretty cool.
-No it’s not. Did your parents make you work hard when you were a kid?
-Yeah. But as time went by, I started making myself work hard.
-Huh.
-So what do you want to do with a quarter anyway?
-Save it.
-For what?
-I don’t know.
-Good thinking anyway.
-I bet that soup is hot.
-It’s ok now.

He points to the lady working at the soup booth

-She’s fine, you know? Do you like her?
-I’m sure she’s a nice person.
-But she’s fine!
-If you say so.
-I’m sixteen, you know.
-Don’t lie to me. You’re twelve at most.
-Ok, ok. Fourteen.
-I still don’t believe you.
-See, I was born in 1989. (he counts on his fingers) Nineteen Ninety…Nineteen Ninety One… (all the way up to 2004)
-If you say so. Are you in school?
-No. I’m on break this week.
-And you’re playing video games.
-No, I’m on a mission.
-To get a quarter?
-Yep.
-What happens once you get a quarter?
-That’s classified.
-Oh, I see.
-That’s a nice little bag you’ve got there. (he points to my mountainsmith)
-Little? I think it’s a pretty big bag. It’s acually my superhero utility belt.
-You’re a superhero?
-Don’t tell anyone.
-Do you have super powers?
-You don’t need super powers to be a superhero. What about Batman?
-He had the Batmobile.
-That was just a fancy car. Batman didn’t have any superpowers though.
-Guess you’re right. Think you got a quarter in your bag? Mabye a dollar…
-I thought you were looking for a quarter.
-Yeah, a dollar is a bit too much.
-I probably could dig up a quarter for you. (I find a quarter and give it to him)
-Thanks man. You’re a cool guy.
-You are too Travis. You take care of yourself.
-See ya.

he shuffles off doing his slow and awkward walk and disappears around the corner; I head out.

Lord knows where his parents were. Lord knows why he was hunting for small change. I’m sure he could use more than a quarter. I’m sure he could have used a bowl of soup himself. But the kid seemed perfectly happy to sit there and babble about this and that at me. A strange interaction, to be sure, but something I won’t forget any time soon.