Kodak Missed This Moment

The moon gleamed on me, evoking a radiance that made me feel bright eyed and elegant. I smiled (straight cheesin), and got brainfreeze. Father Winter was reminding me to keep my trap shut. After all it was -19 degrees celcius, with a wind chill that made it feel like -35. Yep, brrrrr is the word.

Still I left my place thinking, "it's a beautiful night. I should take my camera" But I was running behind on an 8 o'clock meeting I had scheduled with a potential graphic designer for the next issue of the magazine.

This winter I was smart, and decided that I looked cuter warm, than eternally regretful because of amputated toes from frost bite because I decided to wear stilletos in the winter like the rest of these dumb broads around here. These boots were like my portable version of all season Michelin's- prepared for the weather, and let me move smoothly through the harsh winter terrain. It's no surprise then, that when I heard the streetcar coming, I did a little jog for it. I tried to look cute, but how cute can you look when you see the driver look right at you while you're standing 1ft from the door, and drive off (asshole)? This has happened often. So I got over it quickly.

I looked up the street to see if I could see another one coming. Nothing. So I decided to walk down to the next stop (the resistance from the snow will give me some sexy ass calves!). Beep! Beep! I look to my left and there is a 2000 silver VW Golf (my low-income dream car!), and more importantly a handsome man inside. He calls me over, and I usually pretend I don't hear, but for some reason I moved closer.

Me: Yes?

His complexion was like a Werther's Original candy-smooth and sweet. His hair was wavy and dark. I didn't notice this until I got in his car. Yup. I got in. I don't usually do it (fuck what you think), but I did. Boy was this a ride.

Him: Yuh know why I call yuh ova?
Me: No, I actually wasn't...
Him: It's a cold day gyal. You c'yan feel it?
Me: Yeah, but people don't usually...
Him: You know where I'm from?

Suddenly I notice the cigars in his car, and that my seat is tipped back real low. Like summertime ridin through the city in a drop top on the way to a cook out kind of low. Bob Marley and the Wailers suddenly enters my mind, and I feel like I'm in a movie. I smile.

Him: Mi from Saint (See-aint) Elizabett. You know where dat is?
Me: Sorta *embarassed chuckle* [thats the second time in 2 days that I've been grilled about Jamaica. Note to self: read a book or two before you get really clowned on.]
Him: Well, yuh see me? I h'am di blahkest person d'ere. Yuh know what a red nigga is?
Me: No
Him: A red nigga is ah di German an' white people slave dem. We hahvest (harvest) cahn (corn), an' fish cah (cuz) we close tuh di beach dem. And yuh see back 'ome (home) I walked 5 miles to school, but yuh see when di fama (farmer) dem come by inna di mawnin (morning), 'im (him) used to let us jump inna di bahk (back) of dem truck. Like di Fawd (Ford) F150 truck dem. Yeh, dem use tuh let us ride in di bahk ah (of) dem truck goin to and comin 'ome (home) from school.
Me: Oh
Him: So when I see someone who look like dem need a ride, I just pick dem up. Yuh know everyone needs some 'elp (help) from time to time. Even when mi girl inna di car. Mi jussa ick people up. Plus, mi 'ave (have) a flat tiya (tire).
Me: You mean right now? Oh wow. Well thanks for picking me up. Not many people would do...
Him: Dats di problem wit yuh Canadians. Yuh nuh wan' 'elp (help) nobody. Yuh see di Indian dem? Dem a come 'ere an tek ova di whole place.
Me: True
Him: I ave nuhtin agains dem people deh, but Black people need to come too-gedda. Yuh know what mi ah seh sista?
Me: Yeah, I feel you.
Him: Can I let yuh off 'ere (here)?
Me: Yeah, thanks so much, you shortened my travel time by like 20 mins.
Him: Alright. Tek care y'ere (ya hear?).

By the time I could recall what had just happened in the past 12 minutes, it was over. We didn't exchange names. He didn't try to hit on me. It was just me, him, Robert (Marley), the cigar he was smoking and his memories of Jamaica during one of the colder days in Toronto.

I got out of his car and tried to recall the story he told me. I recorded myself in my cellphone. This is the type of kindness that I never want to forget.

I got on the streetcar wishing that I had brought my camera.