well, I'm smoking again. Yup, quit for 4 and a half years, started again in August. One thing I've noticed is that I have to take extras when I go to Vancouver. When I get off the bus downtown, I have taken to sitting in a little courtyard on the corner of Granville and having a cigarette. Inevitably, someone will come up to me and ask for a cigarette. Same on the ferry. So I take extra. I figure if I can have my little habit, so can the homeless folk. They always ask so diffidently, one the other day said, in greeting, "You're going to hate me", but I was already rummaging through my bag for the pack I had just put back in there, and his face brightened right away. They usually say, "Do you have an extra cigarette?" I always say, "I sure do," and give it to them with a big smile. Then I warn them, "they're kind of strong", and they never seem to mind. On Tuesday a young man who told me he was a heroin addict repaid me for the cigarette by doing his rap stuff for me. (Mind if I sit down and share a smoke with you? What kind of music do you like? I'm a rapper, wanna hear my stuff?) He told me his name was MC Vital, and although I'm sure I'm no judge of rap, it didn't sound too trite. Afterwards he said, "you have to applaud", so I did, laughing, and thanked him, and we shook hands. If I'm going to be panhandled, I may as well enjoy it. Was it good for you?
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