This is Richard. I was climbing the stairs from Ted Rogers Way to Huntley Street and he was sitting on the top step so I stopped and we chatted. The conversation was rambling, driven by a free-association game that Richard seemed to be playing with himself. Commercial vehicles would zoom past on the road below and their signs and logos would set Richard off on some new observation. Despite the fragmented nature of his patter, it took on a strange coherence.
Here’s an excerpt from our conversation:
Richard [watching a police officer guide traffic around a crane]: There’s a policeman. To protect and serve. That’s what they’re for, and I really believe that’s what they do. They help keep the peace.
Me: Well, they’re official title is officers of the peace.
Richard: My son’s a police officer. Made detective. The lousy son-of-a-bitch! [Pointing to a truck towing a trailer] I used to sell trailers like that. Made my living selling trailers. [Pointing to a Sunnybrook Hospital bus.] Sunnybrook! Finest hospital around. I don’t know if it’s the best in the world, but it’s right up there. Do you know that if you’re out of the country for more than 90 days you lose your health insurance? And the president’s name is Obama! See that [inaudible] brewery truck. My brother-in-law owns the company. Not just a few shares in the company, but the whole damned company. He’s the CEO and runs the whole goddamned outfit. He’s the one got me selling trailers. Called me home and said I got a job for you.
Me: So you weren’t in Toronto then?
Richard: Oh no.
Me: So how long have you been back?
Richard: Oh, about nine days.
Me: And where were you when he called?
Richard: When who called?
Me: Your brother-in-law.
Richard: Oh him. Yeah. In Italy. The big boot. That’s how come I know all about health insurance. I was making good money, you know. I loaned $15,000 to my son for him to pay off his loans and you know what the son-of-a-bitch did? Went and bought himself a Corvette. Goddamn it. If I ever catch him, I’m gonna …
And so it went.
Technical stuff: ISO 400, f 8.0, 1/250 – EF 100mm 2.8L IS USM Canon Macro Lens