Hello Neighbor

"YERZ GETS DA BACK HERES!" screams Consuela with a deafening curdle as she wobbles after a gang of kids who just stole her money.

I happen to turn the corner to the parkette just in time to see one of them whip by me, while the others laugh ahead of him.

"YERZ DIRTIES BASTERDS!" she screams with all the venom of the universe. 

Even my eyebrows raise as I catch a glare from her that stops me short in my tracks.  As she wobbles off in the distance a million miles behind them, I finally process what just happened.

Seeing that her Taco Stand is safe, I turn around to help Consuela chase after the rug rats who obviously have nothing better to do.

I immediately realize that not going to the gym these past few months has limited my ability to race down the street with ease; and as I huff and pant like a fat woman doing jumping jacks in a sauna -- I know that either way; when this is all done, I'm going to have to hear an earful from Consuela.

"Consuela!" I yell between heaves, "I'm ri-i-ight behiiiind you!"

The kids break to the left and whip around a corner.  A moment later Consuela also disappears; and I'm left to fear the worst of scenarios when I eventually make it there.

If I make it there...

As I turn the corner I am caught by surprise.  The apple-faced man has managed to grab the kid with the money by the hood of his sweatshirt and dangles him in the air until I arrive.

"YERZ IZ MY HERO!" Consuela squeals as she rips her money belt away from the thief's grimy hands; planting a kiss on the apple-faced man's cheek.  "Yerz cans eets for free for yers life," she tells him as I pant my way into the conversation.  I take a moment to catch my breath before expressing my gratitude when --

I am instantly splattered with blood; as the man falls to the ground and the weasel escapes.

In the blink of an eye, I manage to understand what just happened:  this hero is being pummelled by the remaining thugs who have returned to seek vengeance for their friend.

Without thinking I dive into the mess and scream with all my might for them to stop -- which they don't.  There's something addictive about their anger as they take out every hurt and regret on two helpless bodies now lying on a sidewalk that is slowly getting drenched in our blood.

"Jesus," I manage to whisper before a kick to the stomach removes my ability to think. 

A moment later a bigger crowd has chosen to take mercy on the two of us; and manages to scare the hooligans away.

I roll onto my back trying to grasp for air.  Everyone seems to be directing their concern towards me and not the apple-faced man that lays beside me.  When they offer me a hand to stand, my agitation takes over and I snap, "Help him, he's more hurt than me!"

They do. 

In due time, emergency services arrive.  And when I finish giving my statement I am left there holding some ice to my head and giving a big 'thank you' smile to my wayward hero.

Not knowing what to do, Consuela offers him some money from her pouch -- which he politely refuses.  It takes me a moment to search for the words I think he will understand.  Eventually I just decide to speak from my heart and hope that the universe will translate.

"You're a brave soul," I say to him hoping that on some level the message in my heart of gratitude and appreciation connects with him.

"Whaddya mean, Jelly Bean?" he says back with a smile; and I realize that he has since lost a tooth from the attack.

"You know what I mean," I say to him as he continues to smile in my direction -- oblivious of the blood spurting from his mouth.

And in this moment, as we sit here waiting  to be released, I decide to help this man in any way I can.  Because that's what good neighbors do. 

Good neighbors -- the ones worth having, look out for each other.  Because, at the end of the day the reality is; we only have each other.