A, or In the Beginning

(From Aug. 2008)

"Someone had said, It's gonna rain tomorrow, but I hadn't paid attention.

I didn't really worry. Besides, I don't like being saddled with umbrellas or rain coats. And tomorrow was tomorrow. This was Friday night, my first Friday night in New York in more than four months. So I just went off skipping into an endless night.

The next day I was pinned under a huge awning outside of the Kmart on 34th Street with dozens of other people who, like me, either hadn't listened or just didn't care. The rain was coming down hard, but after a few minutes I made a run for it (my NYC time is precious). As I dashed down the sidewalk, it was like an obstacle course as I dodged people and big puddles of water. And it seemed that the faster I ran, the faster the rain came down.

Repeat the scene two weeks later, except this time I'm standing alone with Alif under an awning on Christopher Street. I had passed him twice while walking and each time he had given me this smile that said I'm the happiest guy on earth. It looked so genuine that it impressed me.

In learning about Alif, I'd have to say the thing that most impressed me, besides the dazzling smile, is the name Alif itself. I looked it up, and its the first letter in the Arabic alphabet. So it's basically like naming your kid A, or alpha or something to that effect."

Author's note: Me and Alif bit the dust a few weeks later. Oh well.


Photo: me and Alif in the Village, 7.13.08