jhonenv:

About an hour ago, I was out for a walk downtown, clearing my head, when I passed a stranger heading the same direction on the sidewalk.  Semi-homeless looking, probably late twenties-early thirties, he had a caveman quality about his head, the shoulder length curly hair and those white framed sunglasses they used to wear.  

As I passed him, I heard him speak from behind me.  ”Hey, man, what’re you doing today?”

Curious, thinking maybe he was on the phone with someone, I turned around after a moment.  ”Yeah, I’m talking to you.” he said.

“I thought maybe you were on the phone” I replied.

“Let me ask you something.” he began.  ”Does everything of value have a price?”

I smiled and told him no.

“Now let me ask you this.  Does calling somebody crazy feed your ego?”

Smile still on my face, the two of us walking in the same direction for a moment longer, I answered “Sometimes, yes.”

There, at the corner, he walked on diagonally to the other side of the street while I turned left.  He gave me the two handed gun salute as he walked on.

Seeing as how I went for a walk to drag my mind elsewhere, I regretted not continuing on with the guy for at least another block.