Arco. Downtown Oakland, 12:08 pm

*45 cent Arco ripoff fee authorized. Turn corner back to car*
"Whoa!"
*Man with beanie pulled down over one (infected?) eye leaning against car by gas tank. Looks like he just woke up in a pile of crap. Smells like he also ate it for breakfast*
"[Unintelligible]... be workin."
"Ah.... k. Sorry?" *who knows what grade gas i select, just pump*
"[Unintelligible]... you be workin."
"Oh. Yes. I'm working."
*safely assuming that doesn't make two of us. intense staring while we pass 1 gallon*
"You lawyer?"
"Ha... nope. Not a lawyer."
*i think he takes a short standing nap for the next 20 seconds. or he has an "accident"*
"[unintelligible]... teacher. you a teacher then."
*homeless flattery is still flattery*
"Nope."
*silence. 5 gallons... wtf causes arco pumps to go so slow?*
"sales. you in sales."
"you got it."
...
"give me some change."
"nope."
*7 gallons?! wtf!*
"drrbbbbil nssshhhh. just give me some."
"nope. sorry."
"i know you got some. just give me some."
"nope."
*ok. we'll go with 8 gallons today. close up the tank."
"let me help with that."
"no its alright thanks."
*i swear we momentarily hold hands while he tries to wrestle the nozzle away and put it back on the pump*
"just some change."
"nope."
"you a teacher?"
*what? again? getting back in the car while he starts to shuffle forward.*
"nope, not a teacher."
*pulling away while he continues to insist i give him money*
"change! give me some!"
*in the rear view mirror, he's either planning on breaking my window for not giving him money or he's having a horrible second "accident" while he chases after the car*

Ah. Oakland. Always dependable.