Looter

While going to work May 1 in downtown Los Angeles, I was approached by a man in his 50s. He was wearing a new suit with the tags still on it. The suit was at least five sizes too big. The sleeves on the jacket were rolled up along with the legs on the pants; a piece of rope held up the pants. He had on a new pair of Reebok shoes that didn’t match.

He asked me for some change to buy some food. I asked him, “Did you spend all your money on your new suit and shoes?” With a smile he said, “No, I’m a looter, and I got this new suit and shoes looting.”

I then asked, “What do you think of the Rodney King situation?” He looked at me questioningly and said, “I don’t follow sports anymore.”

HERB SANDERS, Van Nuys