WE ARE: 5 women navigating our twenties in search of peace, happiness and love (or not). WE WRITE: about everything and nothing. From the insane to the mundane- you will find different paths taken, lessons learned and lives lived. WE THINK: you’ll enjoy it...Warning: Consumption of these views may leave you enlightened while intoxicated.

SO LONG, FAREWELL...

The View From Here will conclude on Friday, October 1, our third year anniversary. We would like to spend this month thanking all of our readers, followers, haters, visitors, family, friends, and fans for your continued support, encouragement, and comments over these past few years. Thanks y'all!
-The Five Spot

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Brotherman, where art thou?

Brotherman.

Definition – a brotha with a hustle … to get something from somebody … aka a beggar; given that he doesn’t know you it doesn’t matter…he has his eyes on the prize…and this weekend it was me!

Damnnnn.

So, I found myself in the Keystone state and no sooner than 5 minutes after I parked my car – Brotherman was standing a few feet away, motioning me to lower my window. Just so you know I was not in familiar territory as James Carville (political strategist) has said “… there’s Philadelphia in the east, Pittsburg in the west, and Alabama in the middle” – yup that sums it up. So, I warily look at Brotherman. I can’t stare, be’cuz staring is a sign of disrespect. He was no taller than 5’ 9 ½, missing a tooth (and I’m dead serious), clothes looked like Tide© at one time had mustered the strength to bring the vibrancy back to colors of the polo – but those days had long been gone… So, Brotherman tells me I shouldn’t park in my current spot, rather I should park on the otherside of the median. Moreover, he questions my whereabouts / destination in a lackadaisical, non-threatening way to evaluate the merits of his recommendation for me to move my car.

After careful deliberation, Brotherman gave me the spiel…and it goes a lil’ something like this… “You know I’m trying to get out of town, but I’m $16 dollars short. Do you think you can help a brotha out?”

HELL NO.

For one, Bellini does not think a man should ask a woman for money.
Two, I don’t know you.
Three, most of the 5 can co-sign this I DON’T CARRY CASH.
Yet, Bellini decides to retrieve dollar from her automobile – you gets no more than a George Washington --and give to Brotherman so he can be out of sight and out of mind.

By the time, I pulled my key out of the ignition, scurried my belongings to my destination – Brotherman had vanished. I assume to prey on the next victim.
Why? Why me? I mean I’m nice, but not that damn nice.
And men, before you give your opinion about I shouldn’t have given his ass shit – please understand as a woman it is very unnerving for a man to come up to you (whom you don’t know of course) and just start talking and/or ask for shit. We have too many people out here with issues (i.e. psycho) that are just waiting for an opportunity to snap on somebody – and frankly I don’t want it to be me. So, I stick to my script (reticient in my speech) and remain pleasant until I take refuge in a safe place.

But do you know, when I left my destination and returned later – Brotherman was still in the vicinity like he never left and had the nerve to have a sidekick is this Tag Team? As Brotherman closed in on my vehicle and I emerged out of the automobile, he says “Ahh.. I seen you earlier.” Yes, and you will not be seeing me again” (of course I said this in my mind). I nodded and continued in the direction I was headed and so slightly accelerated my pace to get to my final destination. The nerve. But I’m back safe and sound.

cheers,

Bellini

P.S. There's a Brotherman in every city waiting for you...

5 comments:

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

ironic - i just wrote a post last week calld im a hustla - not

Anonymous said...

Yes they are in every city, when I was in Baltimore I seen cats on the sidewalk doing some hand gesture thing that would get them a free ride for anyone who was willing to stop.

These days I could be walking or just sitting outside my house and some dude comes up and asks for $.50. What? First I don't carry $.50 around like that. Second, what can you do in this world today for $.50? Truly sad.
I can see why you did what you did, out of safety but just be careful because giving him what he wants may make you an easy target.

Bellini said...

@torrance: leave a link so i can read your tale.
@ choclate: B-more, 'nuff said. You're makingme reminisce about my days @ at John Hopkins between there and Lexington Market, Brotherman was always in the vicinity.

Anonymous said...

K.I.M. said...

I too engage in conversation a minute too long with bumbs. But I keep waiting until the day that I have the Kahonas to say,

"Dude, I'll give you a buck, if you pay my mortgage."

Point being, I work hard for my money so that I can pay my bills. I wish I could just go around asking for folks to cover me.

Dirty Red said...

Good post Ma.

It depends on what mood I am in on whether or not I give beggars anything. But I have no problems with telling a mother(shut yo mouth)to get out of my face. But sometimes I do give a dollar here 2 dollars there, because you never really know what a person is going though. Besides everything I give out usually comes back double, so it just depends on my mood at the time.