The Christian and Me

The Christian and I sit together. I give him some paper and a pen.

Moments pass. I watch pigeons make love on an air conditioner. I smile at a cute Armenian couple doting on one another. I beam like a proud father as the Christian draws.

"That's a nice tree," I say.

"I drew it," he tells me. "It's the tree from across the street."

"Yeah," I say. "Looks good."

"Yeah," he says.

I draw the Christian.

He smiles.

"Want a cigarette?" I ask.

"Yeah," he says.