My Bike Stolen...Again
My bike was stolen today. Again. Three witnesses saw an older, heavy-set black man take bolt cutters to the chain around my bicycle - in the middle of the day, on Main Street, mere feet from the glass windows of the coffee shop I just started working at yesterday. I went to the coffee shop quasi defeated, uncertain I could subsist off the meager wages of my various part-time and freelance jobs, thinking I might need more money. And so today I lost my $800 bicycle. I know: I'm a jackass for even riding such a thing through my neighborhood, instead of leaving ten minutes earlier and simply walking. I got into the habit of riding everywhere - I had a sweet but crappy old school bike that was my close-to-home transport until last week, when a friend said "wow that bike rocks! If I had one like that, I'd never drive."
"You'll ride it all the time?" I looked her in the eye, she said yes, and I gave her my bike. That was last week. Karma is as false a notion as religion. This week I give in and got an "extra" job, and my mountain bike is stolen. The best part, is three people witnessed it. Stood by and watched and not a single one of them said "Hey, buddy, what are you doing?" They all just stood by and watched.
How can someone do that?! He had bolt cutters!!! It was evident to all parties that such a man did not own such a bike.
I know without question, that if I were fortunate enough to NEVER have had anything stolen, to have NEVER been hurt or struggling, I would still ALWAYS be the type of person I am today: the type of person who stands up and screams when they see injsutice; the type of person who fights for good and beauty in this world; the type of person who says "Back away from the bicycle, Mother Fucker."
The glory of the ghetto is wearing on me.
Though at one moment, as I was stolling down the street telling everyone I know to look out for it, I was approached by a familiar face. One of the myriad of street people who I wave to regularly, though I don't believe we've ever spoken.
"Hey honey! I hear you got your bike stolen" There is sincere pity in his eyes. "Well that Niger messed with the wrong white chick. He don't know it, but that dumb ass got the whole Main Street posse on his ass. We gonna rip him apart. You is good people and don't deserve none of this. Don't worry pretty lady; we'll find your bike."
And he is only one example. There is a community here.
It doesn't mean anything positive will come of said community, but it's good to know its there.
I need to go break things now.
"You'll ride it all the time?" I looked her in the eye, she said yes, and I gave her my bike. That was last week. Karma is as false a notion as religion. This week I give in and got an "extra" job, and my mountain bike is stolen. The best part, is three people witnessed it. Stood by and watched and not a single one of them said "Hey, buddy, what are you doing?" They all just stood by and watched.
How can someone do that?! He had bolt cutters!!! It was evident to all parties that such a man did not own such a bike.
I know without question, that if I were fortunate enough to NEVER have had anything stolen, to have NEVER been hurt or struggling, I would still ALWAYS be the type of person I am today: the type of person who stands up and screams when they see injsutice; the type of person who fights for good and beauty in this world; the type of person who says "Back away from the bicycle, Mother Fucker."
The glory of the ghetto is wearing on me.
Though at one moment, as I was stolling down the street telling everyone I know to look out for it, I was approached by a familiar face. One of the myriad of street people who I wave to regularly, though I don't believe we've ever spoken.
"Hey honey! I hear you got your bike stolen" There is sincere pity in his eyes. "Well that Niger messed with the wrong white chick. He don't know it, but that dumb ass got the whole Main Street posse on his ass. We gonna rip him apart. You is good people and don't deserve none of this. Don't worry pretty lady; we'll find your bike."
And he is only one example. There is a community here.
It doesn't mean anything positive will come of said community, but it's good to know its there.
I need to go break things now.
posted by Lindsay at 3:16 PM
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