Aesthetic Enthusiasm

I want to make it clear that no one has asked me this question lately, but if someone did wish to inquire about my hobbies, I would say, first and foremost, “Sitting in the park.” To the closed minded, it may not sound like an activity, merely a location, to which I’d rebuke ”It’s a whole ecosystem,” I’d say. If you go around the room and say what you did over the summer, and the kid sitting next to you says he went to Australia, no one is arguing that’s only the location. And just like Australia, my park has some creatures.

For what I assume is no particular reason, I have been (not incorrectly) identified as someone who carries a lighter. And when asked, I will let anyone use it. This is less-so coming from a place of generosity as it is my inability to say, “No.”

Just last week, a man approached me, and after I handed over my Raw Paper lighter, he asked me if I like comic books. To be fair, he could’ve asked me if I liked anything, and my answer would’ve likely been the same. 

   “Not really.”

This offended him.

   “You hurt my feelings,” he said.

He then showed me what was in his black plastic bag– four copies of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I said “Nice,” assuming that would be the end of it, but he went on, telling me how he doesn’t know how to read. He asked me if I wanted a copy.

“I’m alright… at least you can look at the pictures in those.” 

He pulled out another book, Legend of Zelda. This one was just words. He told me he wanted me to have it. Again, I insisted he should keep it.

“No. When you give me something, I give you something back.”