He was about 5’7, powerfully built, in his mid-twenties, and had the coolest walk in the world. I’ll call him “Ralph.”
He was one of my childhood heroes. Ralph worked for our neighborhood park district on the Southside of Chicago (which, by the way, is the same park of the famed Jackie Robinson Little League team…shameless plug). I’m not exactly sure what Ralph’s job title was, but he oversaw the after-school activities.
A few days ago I was in a bookstore in Los Angeles, when I bumped into a female friend from the East Coast. Before even saying Hello, she gave me a serious look and asked “What’s up with all of the killing on the Southside of Chicago?”
I stared at her for a long moment. I wasn’t quite sure how to answer her question.
Two weeks ago, I was speeding down the street, late for a meeting. Suddenly, a squirrel ran in front of my car. I swerved to avoid it. I really did. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw that I had partially run it over. Half of its body was crushed, and the tail was writhing in the air, in agony. Not wanting it to suffer, I quickly reversed, and put it out of its misery. I immediately felt a tinge of guilt. I didn’t know what to do. Should I get out of the car? Should I call the authorities? But I really needed to clear my head for the meeting, and I was already very late. So, I told myself…
Kids today are so advanced when it comes to sex and drugs. When I was a kid, I was totally naïve.
At least three times a week, I like to take a long walk through the park near my place. Nearly every time I go, I pass the same old white man heading from the opposite direction. Every time I see him, I smile, wave, and speak. Every time he sees me, he frowns, watches me suspiciously, and moves off the walk path to avoid me.
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