It wasn't that he had to make a living washing windshields at stoplights. Just because he hung out in the East Village, putting up with yuppies driving through, being assholes to him just because his clothes were worn, didn't mean he didn't have options. Hell, even if no one would believe him (he knew they wouldn't), he was a genius. Got his MD at 23, did his residency in Boston, got fed up with it all and moved to New York with nothing but a duffle bag full of videos and the clothes on his back.
It was honest work, washing windows. Sure, it didn't pay well (he had a shitload in savings anyway) and it wasn't exactly what you'd call a job with any "upward potential" (he really didn't care about that anyway), but it was honest. None of the meandering around the point so you don't have to outright tell someone they're probably going to die. No suggesting procedures that people didn't reallyneed, "just to be safe" - just to get their money, more like. No more competing for the "top spot" when he just wanted to help people.
So he was on the street, in his old (but clean, not that anyone noticed) clothes, with his bucket and squeegee, on Christmas Eve, trying to get people who thought they were better than him to acknowledge him, and let him work. Usually they just drove past. Sometimes they nearly ran him over. He should've been frustrated. He should have been annoyed.
Instead he just smiled at the next car. "Honest living, man!"
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timeasmymeasure
Honest Living, Rent, Squeegeeman, honest living, PG
Date: 2007-03-28 05:59 pm (UTC)It was honest work, washing windows. Sure, it didn't pay well (he had a shitload in savings anyway) and it wasn't exactly what you'd call a job with any "upward potential" (he really didn't care about that anyway), but it was honest. None of the meandering around the point so you don't have to outright tell someone they're probably going to die. No suggesting procedures that people didn't reallyneed, "just to be safe" - just to get their money, more like. No more competing for the "top spot" when he just wanted to help people.
So he was on the street, in his old (but clean, not that anyone noticed) clothes, with his bucket and squeegee, on Christmas Eve, trying to get people who thought they were better than him to acknowledge him, and let him work. Usually they just drove past. Sometimes they nearly ran him over. He should've been frustrated. He should have been annoyed.
Instead he just smiled at the next car. "Honest living, man!"