Cool Children

It's funny how an acquaintance from the past just pops into your head sometimes. Usually the flashback is brought on by a phrase someone says, or a thought you have. Today my particular flashback was induced by the words "this guy," which were uttered by one of the custodians where I work, as we passed in the hall.

I'll tell you how that phrase came to be...

Some time ago, in my multi-faceted career -- I call it that to avoid the more accurate yet less honorable "all those jobs I had." -- I was working as a graphic artist at a print shop in Fairfield, New Jersey. They had a bindery department where all the cutting, collating, punching and stapling was done.

When I first started my job, the boss was showing me around the place and introducing me to all the people. We came to the bindery department and he said "We have children working in the bindery." I thought that was strange, and maybe a little illegal. I also wondered what he was talking about because I saw no children in there, but I let it pass.

I didn't find out what he meant until I became acquainted with one fellow who worked in the bindery, and who was there at the time my boss was showing me around. This was Children, Children Avena.

Children was from Haiti, and had moved to the U.S. with his father and brother. He spoke Haitian Creole and perfect English with all it's slang wonderfully affected by his colorful accent. I would often overhear him speaking Creole with a fellow employee in the bindery, also from Haiti. The conversations eluded me completely, but they were fun to listen to.

Children was lean and physically fit with a mop of dreadlocks that would flop around when he walked. Aside from his exotic origins Children intrigued me with his comical personality, his genuine, sincere character, and an uncanny talent to do impressive standing somersaults. Sometimes he would somersault from a stair rail right to the ground, landing perfectly on his feet.

Sometimes he would make fun of me, and "bust my chops" as my father would say. I would tell Children a dumb joke and most times he would shake his head and say, "dis guy, man!" Rolling his eyes and tipping his head in my direction.

"Dis guy, man."

That became one of my favorite phrases and Children and I would frequently mutter it in passing as we went about our daily tasks at the print shop.

Most days passed without instance, but sometimes Children would be in a bad mood, and it showed. I would let him be when I saw that he was having a bad day, but on occasion I would step into the bindery, roll my eyes and say "dis guy, man!" That would usually get a smile, if not a grumbling response of "dis guy," in agreement with mine, and collectively directed at whatever was bothering him that day.

I had great times working with Children, and could write a lot more. Maybe in a future observation I'll mention him again. Indirectly, he had an effect on my life. I became friends, for a time, with a person from another culture, another place. I won't ever forget Children, and I wonder from time to time if he remembers me.

Sometimes, when things aren't going my way, I catch myself muttering: "Dis guy, man."

Here's to knowing someone else.

Drew Vics, an artist, writer & musician from New Jersey, writes for http://www.Myeyez.net, and for other websites online.

---

The Priceless Gift of a Knee-High Smile

She was just over knee-high standing next to me in... Read More

A Key In Hand Is Worth A Thousand On My Desk

A key fault I have, and I can only talk... Read More

What is the Meaning of Life?

A young man in search of enlightenment had traveled to... Read More

Anything That?s Worth Doing, Is Worth Doing Poorly

Yes you got it. You read it correctly. We're not... Read More

Future Prediction

Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 13,... Read More

Inspiration From Jack Dempsey

I really like Jack Dempsey's great one liner: "A champion... Read More

Experiences in My Life Prompted Me to Never Give Up

Many people think that their life is a disaster that... Read More

Four Words that Make Life Worthwhile

Over the years as I've sought out ideas, principles and... Read More

Charity ? Give To Receive!

We all know the truism that "charity begins at home."... Read More

A Life Touched

Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 17,... Read More

Surefire Ways to Develop a Thankful Attitude

Spend some time thinking about how good you have it.... Read More

Stay With It!

I walked out of his office inspired. All I could... Read More

How Do You Do That? Demystifying People With Disabilities

IntroductionNearly all employers and human resource professionals are aware of... Read More

Being Relatable in Todays World as a Christian

There are reasons we cross paths with those that we... Read More

Good-Bye Yesterday, Hello Today

Many of us are unable to move forward with our... Read More

Flight Delay

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 6,... Read More

Your James Bond Fantasies Become Real

The problem with this is that fantasies usually don't come... Read More

Quest for Freedom--A Story Of Pure Courage

The Nazis stormed into the house of Stanislavsky Lech, who... Read More

Withstand the Test of Time

As I drove home from work late one wintry afternoon,... Read More

Giving Can Overcome Language Differences

I recently had to take a trip to Germany. It... Read More

5 Tips To Add More Spice To Your Life

1. Once a week, visit somewhere you've never been before.... Read More

Reach Your Dreams

About fifteen years ago I was rummaging through some old... Read More

Jerrys Yo-Yo

The blaring sound leapt under Jerry's skin and strangled him... Read More

Full Disclosure

Direct Answers - Column for the week of April 21,... Read More

Increase Awareness With One Simple Question

There are many ways we can increase our own personal... Read More

My Passion, My Life

Every morning I excitedly get out of bed. Just a... Read More

Beautiful Day Blues

The massive orb dominates the aqua crystalline backdrop of its... Read More

Information -- Schminformation, Enough Already!

We are drowning in it, our grey matter is swollen... Read More

What is Passion?

What is passion? Recently after a presentation, I was once... Read More

Do You Have a Vision?

You must absolutely have a vision, or a dream, for... Read More

When Failure is a Gift

I wanted, for many many years, to be a mystery... Read More

Once in a Lifetime

A subscriber recently wrote to me and asked me to... Read More

Quitting Before It Even Starts

Most people give up just when they're about to achieve... Read More