characters

I have a friend who is a fantastic storyteller. After my mom, he is the best. He went to the New York Public Library today, the City Hall branch, and made these observations:

"Elaine, everyone in the city's crazy. There are too many characters. I got to the library right before it opened and there was a line of people waiting outside. There was this man with a suitcase. Probably carried it with him everywhere. Probably filled with newspapers. Then there was a woman. She had lots of little bags. You start thinking what the hell are people carrying in these bags.

We get inside and one dude falls asleep. Then he farts. And this other dude with big, long hair, he had been there yesterday. He was reading a book called The Curse. I just wonder what they're all doing in the library.

Then some other guy, decent-looking white guy in his sixties with a big belly, he came in with twins. They both had white sneakers, old-man sneakers. They had white, knee-high socks. And short shorts. One twin was wearing blue short shorts and the other red short shorts pulled up to here [indicating an area directly below his pectorals], and white short-sleeved shirts that were tucked in. I thought, man, they're losers. I just didn't get it. How can you dress a kid like that. Like an old man."