photo from Filmsphilos

I'm not allowed to leave the office for lunch. That means if I want a date with my paycheck, I have to relinquish my dates at lunchtime. Lunch dates are "frowned upon," according to the person who signs my paycheck. And it would be "less disruptive" if I either bring my lunch or "order take out delivery service."

In my mind I have declared a secret mini-rebellion against this restriction and lunch time depravity.

Osman is my answer for what I declare to be an ongoing quest for my black market lunch date.
Grilled meat is what Osman does best. I met him when I went to pick up a couple of chicken skewers to take back to the office.

To venture out of the office to pick up food was rebellion enough. But on this beautiful spring day in New York I was not going to sit idly, waiting for a delivery service to bring me my lunch. I didn't have a date schedule, yet. Instead, I set out to pick up some food and make a fast friend who I could (in my rebel mind) call my lunch date.

Osman runs a street vending cart offering knishes, grilled chicken skewers and chicken shawarma on the western part of 42nd Street. A guy stinking like he bathed in beer was hanging out near Osman's stand asking for money.

"How much for a knish?" I asked, thinking perhaps if nothing else, he could stand in for my illicit lunch date.

"$2."

"I'll take one," I said, handing it to the drinker.

Osman noticed my rare act of generosity and asked, "when is your birthday?" (I suspect to do some sort of astrological calculation to try to come to terms with this strange mid-day act of kindness). Still feeling generous I told him not only my birthday, April 26 -- but also the year -- willing to offer my age if he was willing to do the math. Turns out there was no math necessary. He born on the same day and same year as me -- only in Cairo, Egypt, not rural Maine.

It was as though the lunch date was meant to be. I enjoyed a solid five minutes of conversation before the guilt set in and I told him I needed to return to the office.

He told me that I could back any day to talk and I didn't even need to buy anything. I'll be going back soon and I don't have any intention of bringing the food back to the office.