Tell Me a Story

"I use to live under that bridge over there. There wasn’t much for me when I got outta prison. I’d see the tourists and tour buses stopping over here (at St Louis Cemetery #3) and it was super hot so decided I’d panhandle and get some money together so I could buy bottles of water to sell to the tourists. It was my way out from under the bridge. I stood on the corner, and I got some hand-outs, day after day, and pretty soon I had enough money to buy water.  But then I realized I needed a cooler to keep the water cold so back out to the streets I went to get money for the cooler. When I got enough for the cooler, I realized I needed ice. Damn, so after a lot of work and trouble, I had my cooler filled with ice and cold bottles of water for the thirsty tourists but that cooler was so heavy and bulky I decided I needed a bike to haul the water and make it easier for me and the customers."  

"My bike is great—she’s got a slow leak in one tire, but I have three of them now, and I trade out the parts from one to another when one goes out. I live in a house over there where I keep the bikes."

"The tourists really like the water—I have a permit, two permits—take a look, I keep one in my cooler and one clipped to my shirt. I’m legit so that none of the police can make me stop selling to the tourists. They can’t make me go when they see I have a permit—it’s official.  The permits are good for a year and I get one each year. They are $50."

"I have the nice kind of water that the tourists want. I taste-tested all kinds of different brands of water I was going to sell and the cheap off-brand water tastes cheap. I like Dasani best even though it’s more expensive. It just tastes the best and it’s a quality brand."

"Before I was in prison, I had a fleet of trucks and I installed cable systems. I had a large group of guys working for me. There’s not much out there for you when you get out of prison, but I like selling water on hot days."

"I sell the water for 1 dollar a bottle — I meet great people every day and listen to classic rock radio on my bike. Life is so good for me now."

“Sometimes you have to make your own luck.”