Street Theater: Indoors

In my first few weeks back in New York, I have really enjoyed just walking around the city and soaking in the culture. One night recently I decided I would stop for some cheap Chinese Food. I found a place in the 20s somewhere and sat down with my book and a pile of greasy lo mein and an eggroll.

Just as I was getting settled in, a well-worn gentleman entered the restaurant with his shopping cart filled with all his worldly belongings, turned towards the young Asian woman at the cash register who was busy taking orders, and exclaimed "momma-san, how are you this evening?" She did not lift her head from her work as she huddled with her delivery guy. The man then began to address the diners:

"I have a TV set here. Anyone wanna buy it? It works. I plugged it in. All it needs is a cable. I just went to the 99 cents store and got the cable -- anyone want to buy this TV?" he asked, holding up the worn out nine-inch TV to the patrons. He then turned to a young couple and said, "Man o' man, you two are going to have beautiful children." Then again towards the front, "Hey mamma-san, you do look good tonight."

Turning to another couple: "You here with your son tonight?"

"My son?" the woman replied feigning indignance, "how old do you think I am?"

"Oh, no, no. I didn't get a good look at you the first time. Your husband? Oh your brother -- yeah I can see how you two look alike. Momma-san, don't these two look alike?" Still no reaction from the front of the restaurant. A patron then tried to get up and bring her tray to the garbage can. The man then took the tray out of the woman's hand and insisted on taking it to the trash for her, as if she were in his living room. He just shook his head as she protested, as if to say "that's what I'm here for, afterall."

After cleaning the tray, he surveyed the room one more time. "Don't nobody wanna buy this TV? OK, momma-san. I got work to do. You have a good night now, momma-san."

He left the restaurant, just as he had entered it, pushing his overloaded shopping cart. The woman at the cash register never reacted to him. There was no comment from the diners after he left. He went out into the night, and people went on with their conversations. Just another night in Manhattan.