TIME

by Michael J. Ewing

I am standing outside of the post office in Long Island City (after filling out my address change form), contemplating which of my moving activities requires highest priority: Boxes? Movers? Stealing items of my roommate’s while she’s at work that she won’t notice for several weeks? As I mull my options a guy in a long monk-like robe-like garment emerges with his adorable four or five-year-old daughter. She immediately says hi to me about a dozen times. I say Hello to her and give the guy a ‘Hey, what’s up?’ smile. I turn to walk away when the gentleman says, "Hey, man, you look familiar."

"Really?" I reply.

"Yeah, you look so much like this guy I know." Then he adds, looking me up and down, "But you’ve never done time, I’m guessing."

"Well, uh, no," I say. "At least not for more than a night," I laugh; he doesn’t.

Now we are walking down the street together: me, the ex-con, and his daughter. I notice he is missing most of his front teeth.

"Yeah, yeah, you really look like this guy I did time with."

"Really."

I’m noncommittal at this point. I mean, I’m strolling down the street with a real prisoner! God, I’ve lived a sheltered life.

We mosey along and he complains about credit card companies and explains what he was doing at the post office. I begin to wonder how far he’s going: I can’t help my complex feelings of guilt, concern, and awe in our continued proximity.

Suddenly, he shifts back to the primary theme. "Damn," he exclaims, staring at me intently, "I can’t believe how much you look like this guy. It’s just weird."

"Yeah, it is weird," is all I can manage.

Then they turn down a side street and, as they exit my world, the guy snickers and offers this parting thought:

"You know how they say everyone’s got a twin?" He hesitates like a polished comedian, and then says, "Well, yours is doing time upstate."

º º º

THE REALLYSMALLTALK BRAND AND LABEL STANDS FIRMLY AGAINST: Tiny samples of sandwiches being handed out to pedestrians by someone about our age.

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