Capital character

Downtown in the capital on Sunday is akin to a ghost town but as soon as I stepped out of the car with camera in hand I was hailed by a passing gentleman who insisted on giving me a grand tour of the capitol building. He walked up just as I was taking the first photo and struck up a conversation with me, asked if I had a cigarette, and commenced to explaining where to find a little known treasure there on the grounds. He said he'd found it once while taking a shortcut across the lawn and he'd like to show it to me.

A born tour guide with incessant conversation, he introduced himself as Nicholas, better known as Detroit. He told me he'd lived many places, including France, and impressed me with his delivery of the native language while explaining his trek from his original home in Michigan. "Why Mississippi?", I asked him and thus I received an explanation of this state being the place to be if you were black. His take on it was that with the history of racism and the programs now available to young black men, there was no better place to be and yet the young MF's were turning their backs on opportunity (this being said as he imitated the youth by turning his hat backwards and giving a disdainful turn of his chin) and he just didn't understand it.

While walking to his secluded treasure, he asked me to guess his age. Being polite, I underestimated slightly by saying 52. He told me that he was 62 and proceeded to stand on his head with his feet straight in the air and thanked God for his blessings even before he stood upright again. Impressed yet again! I can't do that; never could, regardless of age. Finally, we reach his treasure and below you'll find photos of this object as well as of Nicholas. What I'd intended to be a few minute stop due to the dying light, turned out to be an hour tour thanks to him. He guided me to the Veteran's memorial and kept up a running dialogue as we made it around the capitol building.

I'm not sure where Nicholas came from out of the darkened city streets or where he was returning to. While I'd seen a couple of homeless individuals just before he arrived, I didn't insult him by asking if he was one as well. He did tell me he was a painter by trade and named off individuals' names I'd recognize. He also told me he was very talented and that if I'd like to see it, there was a large mural painted by him on one of the buildings there. Because it was dark, I decided I'd return another day to search for it. I enjoyed my visit with Nicholas immensely and was humored by his bravado and sly reference to the tour only costing me a pack of cigarettes. At the end, as we were parting, we shook hands and I did pay him for the tour with the cash I had in my pocket. Though it was more than the cost of a pack of cigarettes, I'm not sure what he'll actually do with it. That's his business. The hour of conversation and fun with him was priceless.

Once back in the car and headed down the street, when we arrived at the intersection, Nicholas was in the middle of the crosswalk standing on his head again. While I was laughing at him, he told me he thought I might want another photo and turned to saunter down the street. I hope he's well and warm tonight.