LIFE IN NEW YORK





LIFE IN NEW YORK

New York     Cesar Chelala

A WALK ON CARMINE STREET

After almost an hour of strenuous exercise (strenuous for me, as an older person, mild for a young one) I decided to walk back home going through Carmine Street, in New York City. In the 19th century, the street was part of an affluent residential neighborhood which gave way to a dynamic community of working class immigrants and artists in the 20th century, particularly those coming from Italy. I stopped at a family restaurant, where a man dressed in long sleeves and a tie (I later learned that he was the owner) was busily setting up the tables for the lunch hour. I was looking at the menu posted on the wall, when I saw one of the specials of the day listed as “Spaghetti Sophia Loren.” “Can I ask you a question,” I said to the man. “Yes, of course,” he answered. “That special that you have listed…” and before I could proceed he said proudly, “This is one of our signature dishes, Sir.” So I continued to ask him, in jest, “Do you think I could just have Sophia Loren without the spaghetti?” His face, serious until now illuminated with a smile and he told me, “Sir, you made my day. Please have lunch on us.” I had a most satisfying meal.

                                               A BUS RIDE

 I was waiting for the number 5 bus to do some errands. This line is one of the very few which runs from South to North in New York City. However, despite the need for it, it is one of the worst run lines in the city. I was annoyed at the delay when I noticed a woman sitting on a bench at the bus shelter. Despite the relatively mild weather she wore a heavy wool coat. Her look was friendly and serene, that of a typical warm-hearted granny. Noticing my disappointment, she said, “Don’t worry. It is about to arrive. It usually comes a few minutes after bus X-10, which just left.” “How can you know when this line is so irregular and unpredictable?” I asked. “Because I am an optimist,” she said. And sure enough, the bus came to our stop on the heels of the X-10. We both got in, and I realized that the only empty seat was the one next to hers, so I sat there. “Do you live nearby?” she asked me. “Yes,” I answered, just a couple of blocks away.” “And,” she said, “may I ask you what you do?” “Of course,” I told her, “I am a consultant on public health and a writer.” “That’s interesting,” she said, “I am just now going to a writing class.” Although I imagined what her answer would be –children’s books- I asked her what her intended subject might be. “Oh,” she said, “I want to write erotica.” Noticing my surprise she added, “I know that it would sell very well. I like business and I like to make money, so I am determined to do it. Erotica is no longer a taboo. Now women read erotica at the beach, in parks and coffee houses; wherever they happen to be.” I asked her what caused this change. “It all happened after the book ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ came out,” she continued. “It totally changed the perception of what women could or couldn’t do.” “But,” I said, “I thought all this was due to the women’s liberation movement.” “Oh no,” she said, “not at all. The women’s lib movement is a very hard sell. That book, instead, was very effective in promoting change.” I was impressed by her self-assurance so I asked her who the best writer of erotica was. “The one who writes the shortest,” she answered. “Why so?” I asked her. “Because they go directly to the point,” she told me with a hearty laugh. 

A NEW INDIAN RESTAURANT

New York         Cesar Chelala

I had been trying, unsuccessfully, to fix up a lamp at home until I finally decided to take it to a special shop for repair. On my way to the shop I saw a small front of what seemed to be a new restaurant in my neighborhood. I tried to watch inside to see what kind of restaurant it was when a smiling young man –apparently of Indian origin- came out and told me, “Please Sir, come in, we are a new restaurant and we have some wonderful curries and kebabs.” “Regrettably,” I told the man, “I just had lunch.” “Never mind, Sir,” he told me, “You can also have dinner here and,” he added, “we also do deliveries.” “Where do you do the kebabs?” I asked him. “We have a special oven where we do the Tandori dishes and the kebabs, Sir,” he told me. “I have a special request for you,” I said. “Anything you want, Sir,” he responded. “My wife is pregnant of almost nine months,” I told him. “Do you think you can do the delivery?” The look of surprise in his face was quickly replaced by a wide smile. “Oh no, Sir, not that kind of delivery. This is very funny, Sir, very funny indeed,” he said. 

Dr. Cesar Chelala is the foreign correspondent for The Middle East Times International (Australia).


 














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