New York, July 2006:
They had lowered their voices to harsh whispers so I could no longer make out what was being said, but I had ducked behind a display of primitive tools and could still see the exchange. He was uttering his demands through clenched teeth and I could see spit flying as he did so, but she was clearly holding her own and jabbed him accusingly in the chest with a finger, not backing down despite the veins bulging on his forehead. It was then that he raised his hand suddenly and slapped her. I really hadn't seen that coming and, unfortunately, neither had she as she dropped to the floor out of sight.
As I timidly hid, I was suddenly struck with the realization of how my inaction had caused Jessica to get hurt and emasculated me at the same time. This had two effects, the first was a deep and unprecedented level of shame, and the second was an intense, blazing flare of purpose.
I stood, walked out from behind the display case while making myself as big and imposing as I could, and cleared my throat confidently.
"It takes a pretty tough guy to slap a woman around. Care to try that on me?"
Leo turned to me, flashing a snarl. He didn't seem panicky, scared, or anxious in any way.
This was not the effect I had been hoping for but it was the one I should have expected.
Growling and seemingly ready to pounce, Leo took a step toward me then lunged. I stepped to the side, dodging his initial attack but he reversed direction and clipped my head with his elbow. Despite being more of a lover than a fighter, I have taken my fair share of elbows to the head and shrugged it off, smirking. It was clear, though, that I wouldn't be victorious in a battle of muscles so I tried something simple first. I backed toward the Homo Erectus display. He followed warily.
"You know you're on camera, right?" I said, indicating the wall above my shoulder, behind me.
Like everyone who doesn't want their face on camera, the first thing he did was look directly at it before quickly turning away, cursing... but he was still advancing on me.
"Bah," he growled, "it doesn't matter, they never check the tapes."
"Are you sure? Because I think security..." I smashed the closest display case, "...is on their way right now."
An ear-splitting alarm went off and, wide-eyed, he bolted for the exit.
They had lowered their voices to harsh whispers so I could no longer make out what was being said, but I had ducked behind a display of primitive tools and could still see the exchange. He was uttering his demands through clenched teeth and I could see spit flying as he did so, but she was clearly holding her own and jabbed him accusingly in the chest with a finger, not backing down despite the veins bulging on his forehead. It was then that he raised his hand suddenly and slapped her. I really hadn't seen that coming and, unfortunately, neither had she as she dropped to the floor out of sight.
As I timidly hid, I was suddenly struck with the realization of how my inaction had caused Jessica to get hurt and emasculated me at the same time. This had two effects, the first was a deep and unprecedented level of shame, and the second was an intense, blazing flare of purpose.
I stood, walked out from behind the display case while making myself as big and imposing as I could, and cleared my throat confidently.
"It takes a pretty tough guy to slap a woman around. Care to try that on me?"
Leo turned to me, flashing a snarl. He didn't seem panicky, scared, or anxious in any way.
This was not the effect I had been hoping for but it was the one I should have expected.
Growling and seemingly ready to pounce, Leo took a step toward me then lunged. I stepped to the side, dodging his initial attack but he reversed direction and clipped my head with his elbow. Despite being more of a lover than a fighter, I have taken my fair share of elbows to the head and shrugged it off, smirking. It was clear, though, that I wouldn't be victorious in a battle of muscles so I tried something simple first. I backed toward the Homo Erectus display. He followed warily.
"You know you're on camera, right?" I said, indicating the wall above my shoulder, behind me.
Like everyone who doesn't want their face on camera, the first thing he did was look directly at it before quickly turning away, cursing... but he was still advancing on me.
"Bah," he growled, "it doesn't matter, they never check the tapes."
"Are you sure? Because I think security..." I smashed the closest display case, "...is on their way right now."
An ear-splitting alarm went off and, wide-eyed, he bolted for the exit.
I wouldn't see him again for almost two years.
Jessica was suddenly at my side.
Jessica was suddenly at my side.
"Thank you!" She yelled to be heard above the alarm. She grabbed both of my shoulders and looked me directly in the eyes, "We have to get out of here!"
She reached into the display case I had broken. Primitive jewelry, apparently.
"What are you doing?" I asked incredulously.
She leaned in so I could hear, "Taking back my Grandmother's necklace, I knew Leo would never find it here. Now that this display is broken, they'll take inventory to make sure nothing was stolen. If I leave it, they'll find they have too many artifacts. I need to find another place..." she trailed off but I could hear the panic in her voice. She was on the verge of tears.
It felt like hours had gone by. Despite it being a good thing for Jessica and I, I couldn't believe that the Security Guards weren't there yet. I knew if someone touched my Homo Erectus, I'd respond much faster.
Jessica grabbed my wrist and we ran for the nearest fire escape.
"I need to find a new hiding place," she blurted again when we got outside. The sun had set behind some buildings which cast long shadows into the streets. Jessica shivered as a chilling breeze blew over us. "If he finds me before then, he'll take it!"
I felt as if her problem was my fault. If only I had intervened sooner, or called security instead of challenging Leo myself, or even broken a different display... I had made a lot of bad choices and had a lot of bad luck.
"I could take it," I blurted, "and we could meet up again tomorrow after you've found another spot."
This seemed to be exactly what she wanted to hear because she immediately calmed. She pushed her hair back behind her ear, and looked around quickly, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, no problem," I lied, "just meet me somewhere tomorrow. How does noon at Hershey's - Times Square sound?"
She grinned, "A crowded public place for the exchange. Even if he follows us, he can't do anything about it!"
Actually, I had been looking for any excuse to go to the chocolate store but I nodded sagely, wise beyond my years.
She was almost glowing with excitement now as we walked quickly south along Central Park West glancing behind as often, and casually, as possible.
"It's hard to believe how much trouble this little thing has been for me." She stopped and opened her hand and cupped in her palm was the necklace. It was very simple, a plain looking gold chain with a small pendant of a bird. "Are you sure you want to take this for me?"
I picked up the necklace and put it in my pocket. "Yes, I'm sure. Find another hiding place and I'll see you tomorrow at the corner of 48th and Broadway."
She leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. Her lips were warm and soft but, strangely, her eyes were suddenly full of sorrow. And then she was gone, quickly and quietly vanishing in the shadows of twilight.
I wouldn't see her again for almost two years.
She reached into the display case I had broken. Primitive jewelry, apparently.
"What are you doing?" I asked incredulously.
She leaned in so I could hear, "Taking back my Grandmother's necklace, I knew Leo would never find it here. Now that this display is broken, they'll take inventory to make sure nothing was stolen. If I leave it, they'll find they have too many artifacts. I need to find another place..." she trailed off but I could hear the panic in her voice. She was on the verge of tears.
It felt like hours had gone by. Despite it being a good thing for Jessica and I, I couldn't believe that the Security Guards weren't there yet. I knew if someone touched my Homo Erectus, I'd respond much faster.
Jessica grabbed my wrist and we ran for the nearest fire escape.
"I need to find a new hiding place," she blurted again when we got outside. The sun had set behind some buildings which cast long shadows into the streets. Jessica shivered as a chilling breeze blew over us. "If he finds me before then, he'll take it!"
I felt as if her problem was my fault. If only I had intervened sooner, or called security instead of challenging Leo myself, or even broken a different display... I had made a lot of bad choices and had a lot of bad luck.
"I could take it," I blurted, "and we could meet up again tomorrow after you've found another spot."
This seemed to be exactly what she wanted to hear because she immediately calmed. She pushed her hair back behind her ear, and looked around quickly, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, no problem," I lied, "just meet me somewhere tomorrow. How does noon at Hershey's - Times Square sound?"
She grinned, "A crowded public place for the exchange. Even if he follows us, he can't do anything about it!"
Actually, I had been looking for any excuse to go to the chocolate store but I nodded sagely, wise beyond my years.
She was almost glowing with excitement now as we walked quickly south along Central Park West glancing behind as often, and casually, as possible.
"It's hard to believe how much trouble this little thing has been for me." She stopped and opened her hand and cupped in her palm was the necklace. It was very simple, a plain looking gold chain with a small pendant of a bird. "Are you sure you want to take this for me?"
I picked up the necklace and put it in my pocket. "Yes, I'm sure. Find another hiding place and I'll see you tomorrow at the corner of 48th and Broadway."
She leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. Her lips were warm and soft but, strangely, her eyes were suddenly full of sorrow. And then she was gone, quickly and quietly vanishing in the shadows of twilight.
I wouldn't see her again for almost two years.
(Nikon D300, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/60, ISO 220, edited to remove haze)
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