Newsie

Newsie used to work with a Russian I knew through a director friend whose worldly posessions I drove across the country in a long, yellow Ryder truck. One Winter night I walked into Newsie's place of work with a beer in a brown paper bag. That was the moment the Russian thought it prudent to introduce the two of us. I gave Newsie my card and told him, through beer soaked lips, to call me if he had any job leads. A few weeks later he called and offered me a lucrative gig eating cuban sandwiches for lunch and loafing about an art gallery. A year or so later (long after that situation went predictably foul of the boss) I saw him on the street and invited him to Soup Night which was still very much in its infancy.
Newsie plays softball in the Summer in the big park near our apartment.
Most Summer Sundays my wife and I spread out our blanket in the park next to the softball field, read the Times and wait for Newsie to make a catch in left field. It is a tradition I will savor teaching my son.