2006.01.22: Familiar emptiness

Derks held their Bridal Fantasy after party thingie at The Bank and I was asked to come by a few people. I wasn't going to go but after delivering some photos to a wedding client, Maurice called and invited me to actor David Shark Fralick's (Young and the Restless . . . or something like that) party that was being held at the same time and at the same venue but on a different floor. I really didn't want to go back to photo processing and printing quite yet so I accepted his invitation. His friend Damien was with him when I arrived. He handed me a VIP ticket thingie. We wandered in.

The night was actually eventful but I'm not going to write about anything that happened inside the venue. It was what happened outside that's worth talking about. Maurice picked up his cigarettes and walked outside. Being Maurice he couldn't go alone so Damien and I accompanied him. Outside, a stranger struggled with a pay phone. I half noticed. He approached us and asked to use a cell phone. I lent him mine. He made his called and upon returning my phone he told us of his pinch: his vehicle had run out of fuel and he needed to "rent a jerry can for $20 and was $11 short". I looked at him and try to sense if something was out of place . . . he wasn't dirty or intoxicated. He wasn't homeless. He had a speech impairment which was nothing I had seen before. I passed my judgement . . . told him that I'd give him what I could and fished out some change that was in my pocket. $1.50. He pushed us to help him. Damien said all that he had on him was his debit card. The man in need became more pushy and told Damien to go to the bank machine which was probably in the next block to withdraw cash from him. At this point, the man sounded genuinely in need but there was no reason for me to believe that he wasn't sincere. However, his attitude prevented me from pulling $10 out of my wallet to cover the difference. In the end, Damien returned to the lounge and I believe he withdrew enough money to help the man on his way.

Left to right: Damien, "Hollywood", Brett, Maurice. First time I ever intentionally used the flash on the F10.

I didn't really want to post this photo but I didn't want it to look like I attended a sausage party. Maurice and I spoke to this young woman because I haven't outgrown my elementary school fear of conversing with members of the opposite sex and I wished to photograph her. We will see what happens. Damien attended JH and SH with her.