Human statues take smoke breaks
Waking up in a hostel bed is equal parts pleasant and stressful when you're broke. On one hand, you're well rested. On the other, you know they're gonna kick you out into the cold. Once I was back in the cold, I met a nice drug dealer named Dave who showed me where to get some cheap deodorant. I really wish I could've bought some weed off him. Alas, I needed food and a bed, so I set to work next to a golden human statue that stood between Dave and I. While I waited to make a sale, (that never happened) I made Dave a hat and watched as the human statue would stand still and occasionally take a smoke break. It's strange that street performing and drug dealing are actual professions. Sometimes they're on the wrong side of the law and that just makes them better at what they do. Dave used to be a hair stylist before a brain injury gave him hand spasms. I forget if it was a judge or his boss that told him he was a danger with scissors. One way or another the easiest thing for him to do was sell drugs. He could get arrested. Any day now, his already hard life could get harder. That sucks. He's a good guy and if I had the money, I would've loved to buy some weed.
I wasn't very good at what I was doing. the hat I made for Dave didn't even fit him. I ended up giving him the hat I had been wearing for some months. He wore it immediately though and that made me smile. it's amazing how far you can go with just a little bit of encouragement. A lady showed me her yarn work and told me I made her day. Others would come up and take pictures with me and the human statue. We both got lots of thumbs up. I sold no hats. On one of his smoke breaks, the human statue came up to me and said "These crowds today... not so good." It was understandable. Who wants to take their hands out of their pocket when its cold out? Finally, a kebab store owner hollered at me and said he'd buy one. He lied. His doner tasted like shit. fuck that guy. I moved because of him and after two hours in my new location I hat sold.... one hat. the exchange only came out to 7 euros. I was two hats down and only had 7 euro to show for it. I decided to visit Dave and the statue. When I got there they had been replaced with three silvery imitations of my golden friend. That was it. I love Prague. The city is amazing. The sites, the smells, the people, all filled me with joy. All except for that kebab guy. Seriously! who tells a homeless guy you'll buy a hat and then double back on that like you weren't yelling across the street? Even his employees were calling him out on it. Whatever. When he turns 57, he'll have his appendix burst going down a flight of stares and the woman coming up in the opposite direction will recoil in fear instead of catching him. He won't die. She won't call an ambulance. That's just life.
A man was blowing bubbles along the route to the train station and little kids ran around and popped them as they floated about. The smile it put on my face lasted long into the bus ride. Four hours later, I made it to Vienna. Keeping in track with the way this trip is going, the cafe I thought would bring me salvation was full of people with whom I had no place being. I took some advice my mom gave me and tried to find a hostel. Instead, I found a complex of underground clubs that let me in for half price on account of my jacket and my tale. I only had 10 euro on me and the club was open till the morning so it was to be my shelter for the night. I talked them into letting me sell my hats and sold.... none of them. The club owner took two as payment for the opportunity to sell them. The only money I made was selling a crocheted condom to a couple of jokers. Two more hats gone and now only 5 euro to show for it. I'm getting worse at this. The upside is passion breeds curiosity. After talking to several excuses for why people who love my hats don't want them, one offered me a place to stay. They haven't kicked me out yet either. In fact, we're about to go for a walk around Vienna.
Once again thank you if you read this,
K-Wullums
J say of the day: People love a courteous house guest. If you leave places cleaner than you found them you'll always have a place to stay. Keep in mind the streets are a place.