Mr. Paul Birdsong, has what Puerto Ricans call a cara de pendejo. "Literally, it means 'face of an idiot,' but its suggestion is a lot less harsh than the English translation. Basically, it means 'the face of someone who is not hardened, who still gives a shit about humanity,' and who is therefore easy to rip off," a mentor of mine said to me in a cargo van headed West towards Villa Sin Miedo in Canovanas, Puerto Rico, where the jungle vines reached out like muscled arms and tried to choke the coffee beans right off the tree.
He was describing Paul and he was right. Paul does have that look about him, though he, in fact, is not at all easy to rip off. It's in his eyes, mostly, and the way they shine - or don't - at the appropriate moment. Most of the people I want to know have that look. Empathy. Excited like a schoolkid for someone else's good fortune. When you get right down to it, it's a rare find. And fairly Dada-nonsensical. That is all.
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