Good Morning Brooklyn!

Time: 5:30 am

Place: My bedroom and the courtyard RIGHT BELOW my window

Cast: Me
The same damn kids that have been hanging out below my window every warm night since I moved here

Kid #1: mumble mumble mumble

Kid#2: You call me a bitch? Did you call me a bitch? No, no, DID YOU call me a bitch. I ain't a bitch, you a Bitch! Don't EVER fucking call me a bitch. No, don't, don't you EVER call me a bitch. That's my word. That's MY word. DON'T you call me a bitch. Did you call me a bitch? DID YOU call me a bitch?

etc.

Until led away by some blessed soul who I would like to kiss on the lips...and advise to start the leading away process earlier next time.

Kid #1: Mumble, mumble.

Kid #3: Giggle

Kid #1: Mumble

And they left.

Now every time they sit under my window I think about going down there. Maybe asking politely for them to leave, maybe asking where their mothers live so I can go talk to them, maybe asking where they live so I know where to stand and talk bullshit for half an hour say at 6am on a Monday when I know they're sleeping because they've JUST left the courtyard below my window.

This time, though, I thought, school is still in session, I'm gonna go down and ask after this kid's English teacher. Because the debate team is missing a gem here. I think the key here is his skillful twisting of the language, of doublespeak and double entendre. The whole "that's my word" thing? It could mean, "Bitch is my word and no one else is allowed to use it." Or it could mean "I give you my word of honor that I will make good on my (somewhat vague) threat of physical violence should you call me that again." In the scoring process keeping the judges guessing is always smart. I also hear that filling your 2 minutes is important, which he did with ease. And last, but not least, the courage of your convictions. He absolutely felt that his side of the argument was the right side and he was willing to stand up for it despite having somewhat limited research with which to back up his facts. That can be rectified, though, and I'm sure his English teacher will be able to give him the tools to work with. I'd even be willing to go in an volunteer to tutor a couple of afternoons a week if they need extra help.

Maybe he'll show up again tomorrow morning and I can get the number for his school.