Bad Hand

[riff]

Meet Bad Hand. No, that's not his real name. But that's what we call him, Bad Hand.

We don't know where he is from. We don't know what problems he has or why is hand sometimes looks like a cobra about to attack his face. For years, all I knew about Bad Hand was that he wandered the part of town that I work in and did not have a job and was not like most people.

One instructor saw him arguing with a telephone pole. A maintenance man saw him throwing money on the ground and picked it up, but when he tried to give it back to him, Bad Hand became very angry. I see him walking mostly. Up and down the highway. Sometimes before dark and sometimes in the blazing hot summer sun. I have seen him rest behind a store adjacent to campus. Just sitting there with his elbows propped on his knees, sweating, and his bad hand splayed out in front of him.

About a month ago I was with a friend downtown and she had a camera and there was Bad Hand. Sitting at the counter of an old diner, eating a meal.

He struck a pose.

Is he a fake? I don't think so. But he's human. And he is not trash.

 

[Ginny]

does he ever head south?

i swear i've seen that dude, riff......there's this homeless guy that hangs out in the area where i work.....i always see him at mcdonald's....he gets coffee there...and hangs out at a table outside......just sipping on it......for like hours.....looks just like Bad Hand.....that's wild.....

 

[riff]

He may well go south Ginny. I don't know. Sometimes I don't see him for months and once I thought he had probably died.

It wouldn't take much for him to hitch a ride or take a bus down there.

On the other hand, our country is full of people like him.

 

[riff]

Bad Hand would be a good name for a band don't you think? Pass that on to Tortoise.

 

[CoolidgEffect]

Re: does he ever head south?

i swear i've seen that dude, riff......there's this homeless guy that hangs out in the area where i work.....i always see him at mcdonald's....he gets coffee there...and hangs out at a table outside......just sipping on it......for like hours.....looks just like Bad Hand.....that's wild.....

Its wierd. That is the same reaction I had. I think I recognize him from somewhere.

Maybe he is secretly a billionare that has a private jet and flies to cities all over the world. When there, he goes 'native" to blend.

That or there is a magazine we haven't seen called "Bum Fashion" and all the homeless people are posers of the Bum Models.

 

[Ginny]

He may well go south Ginny. I don't know. Sometimes I don't see him for months and once I thought he had probably died.

It wouldn't take much for him to hitch a ride or take a bus down there.

On the other hand, our country is full of people like him.

i'm gonna take a picture of him.....maybe just keep a lil disposable in my car.....i hope he doesn't freak......<re-thinking this>....he might be some serial murderer on the run.....hmmmm...i'll just look closely next time.....or maybe i could holler out the window....."hey.....do you know riff?"

 

[Ginny]

Bad Hand would be a good name for a band don't you think? Pass that on to Tortoise.

he should be popping on msn momentarily....<anxious, horny lil grin>.....i will pass it on....

 

[riff]

I've never talked to him. I think I shall try and see what it gets me.

 

[riff]

Re: Re: does he ever head south?

Its wierd. That is the same reaction I had. I think I recognize him from somewhere.

Maybe he is secretly a billionare that has a private jet and flies to cities all over the world. When there, he goes 'native" to blend.

That or there is a magazine we haven't seen called "Bum Fashion" and all the homeless people are posers of the Bum Models.

You are probably right. With all of the prosperity in America, the rich are posing as poor and the poor people are the ones the rest of us think are rich.

 

[Ginny]

I've never talked to him. I think I shall try and see what it gets me.

oh riff....don't me flash to you bending the homeless dude over a tin trashcan in a dark alley...streetlamp flickering....as you have your way with him....

 

[riff]

Ginny! Have some respect, cher!

 

[Ginny]

<head hanging>......mais okay....but it was a hot flash.....

 

[riff]

I have never seen him with an alcoholic beverage of any sort. Including Dr. tischner's.

 

[Hamletmaschine]

I've never talked to him. I think I shall try and see what it gets me.

Do talk to the guy, riff. You'll probably learn some interesting things. As you say, he's a human being, and all humans have an interesting story to tell. Go listen to "Wharf Rat" by the Grateful Dead to put you in the right frame of mind first.