This is why I love Ponce
Thursday nights are my Friday nights. I have two classes downtown from about 4:30-9:45, and no classes on Friday, so when I am done with my last class for the week I always want to go do something. Last night, I called el hermano and we went to the Majestic for the first time in while. The Majestic itself was rather anti-climactic, but what happened afterward made my night.
I was standing outside after dinner, sharing a smoke with el hermano, when we were approached for a cigarette by what was clearly a transvestite with bad makeup. After bumming a smoke, she introduced herself as “Cat.”
“Cat?” I repeated. I have a hearing problem.
“Alley Cat,” she said with a wink. “I’m not homeless,” she said before beginning to explain that she had AIDS, and pulled out a piece of paper with a Grady Health System logo on it. She looked a little rough – I knew where this was going.
“Sorry, dude, we don’t have any cash,” I said, which was actually true for once.
“I’m not a dude, I’m a shim.” Doh. I was afraid I had offended her. I really hadn’t meant anything by it – it just came out. I backtracked a little.
“I guessed that. But I call everyone dude. I didn’t mean anything by it.” I don’t call everyone dude. I have no idea what protocol is here. I can’t decide if I’m amused by this exchange or kinda sketched out. “Seriously though, we don’t have any cash.”
“That’s okay. I don’t really have AIDS.” She smiled and she sashayed away. It is settled. I am amused. In fact, it made my night.