We are sitting downtown Dever on sixteenth street. It smells like a city. Hot. Cigarettes. I can smell the coffee sitting next tome. I can hear rumbling. Laughter. Conversations. A low hum. Bells of the rick-shaws. It's getting dark but my page is illuminated by the yellow orange glow of the overhead lamps. I'm sitting on a wooden bench next to an older man with a long sandy grey ponytail and trim, tidy grey bear. Glasses from the eighties. Rach and Meredith are playing a rousing game of checkers. There are about six checkerboards located in the middle of the street. Two per table, separated by a two dimensional, brightly colored figure. One of the regulars just left. He said good night to his opponents as his feet carried him away in shiny shoes.
The man sitting next to me is giving Rach and Mere advice. Rach is losing badly and pleads for advice to try and improve her chances for a win. The ponytailed man takes a chocolate we are playing with. York peppermints and Dove dark squares are the pieces. Inside the man's wrapper is says, "Be a dark chocolate dive, just for a moment. He asks if he really needs to do what is says, to which I answer, "Yes."
Nothing like candy to draw a crowd. Passer-bys stop and observe our game. Whoever decided these checkerboards would be a good idea deserves a big pat on the back.
Cities always feel so big. Cold and impersonal. Impressive, but lacking life. Here at the boards, there is humanity. Homeless. Addicts. Scene-sters. Businessmen. Dorks. Old. Young. Regulars. Visitors. A family just left a moment ago. The husband father was playing with one of the regulars.
"What are my chances sir?" asks Rachel.
"Depends on how hungry you are," answers a newcomer with laugh. He continues, "Do you want some cold hot dogs Jon?"
Jon, my ponytailed friend, "No thanks. I'm fine."
The family was from Fort Collins, down in Denver looking for furniture. The two kids are first lured in by the chocolate and we must look trust worthy as the mother lets the kids accept our offer for candy. The little girl, Esta, was three with big black eyes and her brother, seven, and brilliant. Mom says they get along well and that it is better for the boy to be older because a younger sister is okay with taking orders, a younger brother wouldn't be able to handle it. They arrived in CO from India about eight years ago so that the husband father could finish his degree in electrical engineering. The kids definitely inherited some smart genes from their parents. After only a few corrections, the three year old was playing checkers like a pro. In no time, the kids are involved in our game, moving the chocolate pieces and jumping with glee when they are "king-ed" The mother says that Esta is not usually this friendly with strangers. I think it must be the candy.
As we pack up shop, say goodbye to our new friends and get rid of a few pieces of candy, I am overjoyed. First of all, interacting with children was so refreshing. There is something about children that makes me come alive. It was also a experience like none other. I've never been a party of the city like that. I felt like I was in it, not just walking through it. I was in the midst of the busyness, the loud noises and strong smells. It felt really good. It was comforting and beautiful. Humanity coming together in the street. Around checkboards and chocolate.
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