We were on our way to Ocean Beach, via the N line, to watch the surfers. It was gorgeous outside...in the mission that is. Its almost always nice in the mission, which means its almost always shitty everywhere else. In my way to the bus the fog was rolling in over the city, and I knew it was going to be grey at the ocean, but whatever. It was a nice get away. And really, lets be honest. I was headed that direction to enjoy the little cafe thats right on the corner. None of this has really anything to do with the story, so, anyways, the N line.
We got on at Duboce. It was a long train, like three cars, and they were all packed. I take that back. There was one open seat at the very front. Only a medium sized gentleman was taking over with his knee and man purse. I hate it when people take up two seats when it is packed. Inconsiderate. So we took a spot at the front of the very front of the car, standing. Two stops later this thug like Asain dude gets on and stands right next to us. He could be anywhere from 18-26. After a few minutes he busts out (I use the word bust b/c he really was flashy and invasive) a rectangle thing thats about the size of a deck of cards and tucks it under the sweatband thats around his head. Im not sure if that was what was actually making noise, or if there was a stereo in his grocery bag between his legs, but something was blasting rap music. He was all thugged out. Bumping his head to the music. All of a sudden he pulls out a black hand gun, along with what looked like cartridges. He was moving his arm with the music as his hand is wrapped around the gun. After a few glances we saw that the gun had an orange painted tip. It was fake. Still, it was an awkward, attention getting, fear inducing act. The car was packed, there were children in the seats, and this guy wants to cause a ruckus.
The guy taking up the two seats started starring down the thug punk, and all of a sudden the punk looks at the older man and says, "Yo, can I shoot you". The older man then blurts out, "You need to find Jesus. You need to be saved. Hallelujah." Keep in mind no one in the car had really moved or made any effort to make eye contact with the crazy man holding the gun, so I respected and appreciated the two seat man standing up to the punk. Someone needed to. They continue back and forth. "Yo, blood. You need to find God." "Blood, you're wack." "Blood get saved." "Hallelujah." On and on. A few stops later the "gangsta" gets off, and im not going to lie, I was relieved.
The car thinned out eventually and a seat opened up in the front, coincidently next to the newspaper reading two seat hogging preacher. He starts talking to me. I look ahead. Smile, acknowledge im listening but am not engaging. See following conversation.
him: "You see those people. The ones holding the signs saying, God hates these people, God hates those people. You see those signs. Those people are crazy."
me: (silent, and starring ahead with a slight smile implying, crap, what have i gotten myself into)
him: "Those people aren't true Christians. Those people are crazy. Those people don't love, and that is the most important thing about being a Christian, is to love."
me: (silent, and starring ahead with a slight smile implying, crap, what have i gotten myself into)
him: "God doesn't hate us. God doesn't hate anyone, he hates sin. Jesus said, Jesus said the only way into the kingdom of heaven is to be saved. The flesh is flesh, the soul is the soul."
me: (silent, and starring ahead with a slight smile implying, crap, what have i gotten myself into)
him: "You know why you sat here don't you. You wanted to hear the message. Your soul wants to listen. I bet you've never read the Bible. I bet you've never heard this message before. I bet you own a Bible, but you've never read it. "
me: "Ive read the Bible."
him: "What parts."
me: "Doesn't matter."
him: "You know about marriage. Adam and Eve were the first married. Politics today, they are taking God out of everything, and that is wrong. I know you, I know your type. I know you."
me: "You know nothing about me."
him: "Sure I do. Hallelujah. Get saved. Have Jesus in your heart."
The surfers never were in the ocean. Because of the oil spill the beaches are all closed. Oops.