Saturday June 21 2014

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Waking up at 11 a.m.

Honey Crunch n Oats with Almonds and Vanilla Almond Milk.

All day shift at China Wok.

As soon as I walk into the restaurant I see Ling yelling at Eileen over math problems. The kids have been learning multiplication lately. He harps on her so hard that she starts to cry. The only thing she's ever going to learn is whenever she does something wrong she gets yelled at. His life is designed around a sense of urgency. Make everything very fast! Go! Go! Go! And then you've got this child, his daughter, who needs time, more time than he thinks necessary, to learn. I feel like it's not my place to intervene. But I want to scold him for being too impatient and hostile on his daughter. Children need affirmation not constant criticism. Sometimes I entertain the idea of writing a book from her perspective. It could be called "My Hopeless Summers at China Wok". That poor girl. I do my best to tutor her on the down time.

Watermelon.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. Baked Salt n Vinegar Chips. Honey Green Tea.

It's pretty steady for deliveries all day.

Banana.

About an hour before we close Anthony rolls into the restaurant carrying the house phone and with two couch surfers from Louisiana tagging along. There's big plans tonight.

Fried Shrimp with Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, and Rice in Garlic Sauce.

Off work and back home. More couch surfers arrive on the scene, three from Latvia. I corral as many people as I can to meet up with Elliott and his crew at the oceanfront. On the boardwalk near 16^th Street a couple with guitars serenades and leads us all in song. Anthony takes on his well-earned role as jester of our court and riles everyone up running around like an energetic puppy.

Phil asks, "What's he on?"

I shake my head, "Nothing. Nothing but himself."

I brought the playground ball for foursquare games. Many passersby join in. We loiter around the benches as long as we can before the bike cops show up.

Back at the house. There's too much commotion and nonsense. Ana's finger gets caught in the bathroom door from somebody slamming it shut. I get angry about it cause she doesn't deserve any kind of pain. I bandage up the wound like a good boyfriend.

Sleep at some point real late.

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[i] Images by me.