I walked along Fraser street. Long ago it had been a different place. I walked along Fraser street. Remembering the dusty roads, still ducking past the some shops. I walked along Fraser street and noticed a man. I'd been looking down wondering how so many pieces of gum could get stuck on the side walk O_o When a man's big warm brown eyes looked up at me.
The sudden eye contact from such an unusual angle (below me) startled me into a formal "Hullo." My hello seemed to startle the stranger even more, his mouth opened a little and he said a quick "Bonjour" in what I knew as a thick Quebecois accent. I stooped ignoring the eyes boring into me from passers by and extending to him a hand. He took my hand carefully and smiled up at me with coffee stained teeth.. I immediately adored him. I asked him if I could take his picture and smiled in an your-an-odd-woman" sort of way and said "me?" laughing a little self consciously. I said a cheerful "Oui!" He raised his eye brow a little and said "Paris?" I snapped my shot before turning to him surprised.
I had been raised in a small town near Paris called Arras. I visited almost every year during the spring time but for this stranger to guess so close with one word, after I hadn't lived their in years? I only begun to love this him more. "Non" I replied and smiled.
"Nous avons habite a Arras" >> We used to live in Arras
"Ah! C'est tres beau oui?" >> Ah! It is very beautiful yes?
"Oui monsieur" I agreed >> Yes Sir
He smiled and although I knew he was enjoying our conversation he was ticking off a mental list in his head
1. Create a connection
The sudden eye contact from such an unusual angle (below me) startled me into a formal "Hullo." My hello seemed to startle the stranger even more, his mouth opened a little and he said a quick "Bonjour" in what I knew as a thick Quebecois accent. I stooped ignoring the eyes boring into me from passers by and extending to him a hand. He took my hand carefully and smiled up at me with coffee stained teeth.. I immediately adored him. I asked him if I could take his picture and smiled in an your-an-odd-woman" sort of way and said "me?" laughing a little self consciously. I said a cheerful "Oui!" He raised his eye brow a little and said "Paris?" I snapped my shot before turning to him surprised.
I had been raised in a small town near Paris called Arras. I visited almost every year during the spring time but for this stranger to guess so close with one word, after I hadn't lived their in years? I only begun to love this him more. "Non" I replied and smiled.
"Nous avons habite a Arras" >> We used to live in Arras
"Ah! C'est tres beau oui?" >> Ah! It is very beautiful yes?
"Oui monsieur" I agreed >> Yes Sir
He smiled and although I knew he was enjoying our conversation he was ticking off a mental list in his head
1. Create a connection
- make them feel like you are one of them
2. Differentiate yourself
- Explain to them your not like the other meth addicts looking for their next high
I knew this list because once upon a time that is exactly what was going through my head
but Oh this brilliant and sweet man had both more experience and also genuinely was different
He told me about his job once upon a time ago, when he used to work in skinning animals for their fur
He said his boss liked his work so much he used to give him free coats often!
I asked him when he moved from Montreal and he smiled and said "When me and my wife split up, she said eh the babies stay with me, I said *raises his shoulders in a classic emphasized Quebecois shrug* Okay baby. She stayed in Quebec with the little ones and I? I moved to Vancouver then back, Then I found girlfriend decided to stay and again this one she breaks my heart too. Ah I can't resist a beautiful woman"
I laughed and fought the urge to kiss him on both cheeks
I told him neither of them new their loss
Finally as my time was expiring I asked him for one big smile
I knew from experience with my former boyfriend (currant love of my life) that the first smile is never honest so.. he posed smiling..
And then Really Smiled :">
I left him then, saying my goodbyes, and wiping the dirt off my jeans, with a bible in hand and cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth
This Sweet Frenchmen had made my day
Beautiful, keep writing your experience,
ReplyDeleteWhat provoked me is in one hand Bible other hand cigarette, there is lot of contradiction in that.