Doesn't Look American?

                                                       Doesn’t look American?

Adjin’s shines black on the surfboard as a full, harvest moon rises over the Atlantic. The Columbus Day festival is winding down but there are still plenty of lights shining from the pier. Speaking of which…he is surfing waaay too close to the pier John thinks as he kicks the stand in frustration.

John waves his hand to move left

‘Jerrrrrrrk.’

Older Man walks up to John. They are the only two on the beach.

‘You know that guy?’

John waves at Adjin to move left, away from the pier.

‘Jerk. Move left idiot.  Yeah, he’s my friend.’

Older Man

‘Oh. I don’t know if it’s because I was on the All American float today. But I’ve been thinking about being an American. You know who we are…’

John

‘That’s good. It was a fun parade. I liked when the Catholic Bible float went by and they were trying to be cool by playing our music. And Niki Minage came on and sang: Yes I did. Yes I did. Somebody tell him who the F I is. And Father Thomas jumped onto float, ran up the mountain and almost knocked Moses off to turn off the song.’

Older Man

‘Sound funny. Didn’t see that. I saw you two on the beach and was wondering if anything weird was going on.’

John

‘So you wanted to see weirdness up close?’

Older Man

‘No. I mean.  Now that I’m up close to you…I can see you are an American but…you gotta admit your friend on the surfboard…well he could be Al Qaeda.’

John

‘Why would Al Qaeda be down the Jersey Shore?’

Older Man

‘Oh don’t kid yourself son. There’s lot’s of symbols of America…including the parade.’

John

‘That’s more of an Italian American thing. Seaside Heights is so Italian. Although judging from our bars with all the tiki’s…you might think the Italians discovered us by way of Hawaii. Maybe they were Italian Hawaiians?’

Older Man

‘You laugh but we have to protect America.’

John

‘What symbols of America are down here? The Funtown Pier?...oh wait you could be right. Instead of going to Washington DC and attacking the White House, Al Qaeda could attack the Jersey Shore House. And if Snookie and J-Wow aren’t safe…nobody is.’

Older Man

‘Laugh, but you gotta admit. Even though he’s doing a very American thing…that surfing…he doesn’t look American.’

John

‘He was born here.’

Older Man

‘What do you mean by here?’

John irritated

‘Here, on this crazy barrier island. Go to far west…you hit  Barnegat Bay…too far east…hit the Atlantic.’

Older Man

‘yeah, but Al Qaeda plants people for missions for years in the future. I’ll bet his father wasn’t born here.’

John

‘You’re right.’

Older Man

‘Ya see.’

John

‘He was born in Brooklyn and moved here.’

Older Man

‘And his mother…’

John

‘Trinidad. That’s where they first left Pakistan for…before they came to America. That was a long time ago…before Adjin or I were born…maybe not before you were born.’

Older Man

‘Ah ha. See, the immigrants always lead back to Pakistan.’

John

‘Really immigrants always lead back to Pakistan…I’ll have to tell my Aunt that. Her mother’s name was O’Shea. Never knew we were Pakistani way back. And we’re Muslims like my friend Adjin. Who knew.’

Older Man

‘You’re not taking me seriously.’

John

‘Oh yes I am. I heard everything you said. Everything.’

‘J-e-r-k!’

John looks at Older Man

‘Oh, I was talking to my friend,…not you.’