They Say It's the Little Things (1054 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.76 on 22 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <murphydog5.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2004-07-28 17:52:31 EDT
Tonight I was sitting on the curb in the parking lot smoking a cigarette and enjoying my ten minute break from work. I was minding my own business, relaxing in the shade, thinking about this or that, when a fat Hispanic man busted through the door where I came from, presumably to have a smokey-smoke of his own. Instead of a pack of cigarettes, though, he was carrying in his left hand a bottle of Coke.
I watched as he crossed his right hand over his chest to twist the cap of his soda. He's overweight, has a poor-kept goatee and scumpled up black hair. He twisted the cap off and it went "shhhha" and he put the bottle to his lips and started sucking on it.
Having nothing better to do, I took a pull off my smoke and continued watching. He was walking in my general direction, sucking on his soda like insecure and unimportant people suck on their cell-phones any chance they get.
He stopped walking, still talking to his bottle, and he rested his free arm on his hip and arched back. His Adam's apple went chug chug chug, up and down, and fizz filled the bottle with every surge of air. The bottle went from about a 45 degree angle right up to 60 or so. He was GOING for it!
I put my smoke down next to my boots, criss-crossed my fingers under my chin, rested my elbows on my knees, and continued to just watch.
Thoughts of one of my favorite persons on this for-sale rock crossed my mind. My Aunt Sandy. THE Aunt Sandy. Once, when I had zero cigarettes, an eighth tank of fuel, and an empty stomach, I went to visit legendary Aunt Sandy.
I explained that I needed some help and that I would only accept something that I worked for. After digging through her purse and coming up empty-handed, she looked at me. She said, with a bit of disappointment, "I'm sorry. I have no cash."
This man was still gulping. Half the bottle was empty.
She continued, "but there's soda cans in the garage."
I asked, "are there any generic cans, like Safeway or Albertson's?"
She said to me, in her certain way that always makes me smile. She said, in all seriousness, as if I should have known already, "no. They're ALL cans of Coca Cola Classic." Her eyes got all big. I said, thanks.
I remember when I was just a little tike, before emphysema coated and raped Aunt Sandy's lungs, she would work in her garden on hot summer days. After a few beads of sweat materialized on her forehead, she would stab her little gardening shovel in the dirt and go inside to open her refrigerator and pull out a shiny red can and she would slide a filthy finger nail under the tab and yank back and it would go "tsssst, crunch" and she would tilt it back and gulp gulp gulp.
I would wait until she finished so I could see that picturesque expression on her face.
She would drop her head forward and scrunch her eyes and show all her teeth in a grimace and bite down and say, "AHHH. Boy, there's nothing like Coca Cola Classic on a hot day." EVERY TIME.
This fat Hispanic guy, he did the same thing. At that moment, as I sat on the curb with my fingers under my chin, I knew. It was coming. I like watching this because I know that all consciousness is brought to the front seat for just a moment. Just a moment.
I knew that this man, at that moment, as he bit down and scrunched his eyes, could speak perfect English. Didn't feel lost and stupid because he didn't understand the Language of the Land. Didn't have to worry all the time about fast-talking white people in flashy suits asking for pieces of paper he didn't own. Didn't have to worry about where he would gladly volunteer his unskilled labor for minimum wage the next day.
It came and passed. The wince of the eyes, the pained expression of joy and biting teeth. And then the audible "AHH."
I smiled. He "left" for a second and didn't have to worry.
It passed, he regained his balance, and then he looked around, adjusting to reality. For some reason, he looked right at me, me still watching with a smile. I looked away and picked up my burning cigarette. He came back. Spanish, papers, unreliable employment.
They say it's the little things. Bullshit. It's the REALLY little things.
Murphy
User Reviews
Submitted by mrwolf (user info) at 2004-10-16 03:09:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Liked this, pleasant start to my pooey Saturday morning.
Submitted by TheMidnight12AM (user info) at 2004-10-16 03:00:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nicely written.
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2004-10-16 02:47:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by someone (user info) at 2004-09-23 00:07:36 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2004-09-22 22:24:24 (#)
Ranking: 0
huh what happened to murphy?
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2004-09-27 19:12:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Still good.
Submitted by VirtuosoDilettante (user info) at 2004-09-23 18:01:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I love how photographs can bring back glimpses of my past, and with such lucidity. Yet, I find less defining things that refresh my memory even more so.
I enjoyed your post for its story, and because it triggered some of my oldest memories; watching my grandmother work in her garden. I also enjoyed the added pieces that identify you the author, and your perspective outside of the story.
"unimportant people suck on their cell-phones"
"for-sale rock"
"are there any generic cans"
Good post.
Submitted by someone (user info) at 2004-09-23 00:07:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2004-09-22 22:24:24 (#)
Ranking: 0
huh what happened to murphy?
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2004-09-22 22:24:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
huh what happened to murphy?
Submitted by Fabish (user info) at 2004-08-14 04:01:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
¢¿ô
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2004-07-30 13:54:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2004-07-30 13:29:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Hairsphincter (user info) at 2004-07-29 09:22:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by steph (user info) at 2004-07-28 22:45:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by camor (user info) at 2004-07-28 22:38:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by bubbamoore (user info) at 2004-07-28 20:41:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
great post
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-07-28 20:03:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2004-07-28 19:44:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
golden.
Submitted by ohlookasquirrel (user info) at 2004-07-28 18:49:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very nice.
Submitted by William_Q_Percy (user info) at 2004-07-28 18:36:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I love how people share unimaginably rich bits of wisdom that they have no understanding of. That's what I think of everytime I hear some say "its the little things" or "stop and smell the roses"... They repeat it like a mantra that will deliver them from the something terrible that is their everday, but never does.
You get this though, I can tell.
Good post!
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2004-07-28 18:17:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by JMG114 (user info) at 2004-07-28 18:11:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
It's always a pleasure to read something of yours.
Submitted by Scott_James (user info) at 2004-07-28 18:06:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Indeed.
Submitted by antluvdog (user info) at 2004-07-28 17:59:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Interesting.
You could have put the Coke in your gas tank and ran it for a few miles.