9271. 'MON DIEGO LA CHOICE'

'MON DIEGO LA CHOICE'

And what the hell was that? The

street guy mumbled, 'It means the

God of my choice.' I answered back, 

'Well then just say that and forget

all the mumbo-jumbo. That's Creole

for bullshit too.' And then I walked

away. He came back at me, his ragged

claw of a hand grabbing my shirt-tail

and pulling me around. I fully expected

trouble, or a dagger in the gut. It was

after all Carnival time, when that God's

sacred altar drink is apparently holy

whiskey or holy beer. 'W-we talked,

so now I've got to give you these 

beads.' I took what he jabbed out at

me  -  some foolish ceramic beads.

'I gotta' take a piss,' he said, leaning

on the building and running a stream.

'See this,' he said, 'see this,' glancing 

down at his self  - 'Mon Diego la 

choice; mon Diego la choice.'