out.side

so, karen and i were just talking today about how sometimes you just can't find that balance in the world. about how you reach that 'wtf' moment where you wonder when it's going to just stop being so crazy.  and then this happened when i was leaving shelter and two of our young ladies were outside smoking a cigarette and finishing their outside chore. . .

fancy red car cruises by shelter

girl: 'did you see that mexican slow down and try to pick me up just now?  really, dude?  outside of shelter?  what an idiot.  he doesn't even remember that last time i robbed him of $500 dollars.'

me: raised eyebrows, sucking in my breath, bending over in a long sigh (sometimes you just don't have words)

girl: 'what? i'm not going to suck anyone's dick for $20 bucks.  so i stuck a knife to his balls and robbed him of his rent money'

long pause

me: 'on that note. .  .'

girl laughing and tossing her cigarette: 'goodnight mel!'

ho.ly shit.  

and the crazy thing is that this wasn't the most awful thing i heard tonight.  in passing, like just another story.  harm reduction.  teachable moment.  holder of stories.  

sometimes you just take one to the gut and drive yourself away