Rich Tax

: the blackout curtains absorb time; wake at 10am; text D., “When is brunch?”; finish the kale smoothie in the fridge and a small bowl of cereal; chanting as we speak; the ATM stall is stuffy and hot; iced coffee from Peet’s; see D. waiting in line at Cafe Flore; Category: Late For Everything! Category: Invited To Dinner But Arrives For Breakfast! we’re seated but D. found a spot at F____; crammed into a corner; three old dudes talking over empty plates; the wait staff have zero sense of humor; “Do you think we could get platforms for all the plates?” “Ah,” the server earnestly thinks. “I don’t think we have platforms…”; huevos rancheros; D. gives us a tour of the Castro, focusing on Harvey Milk and the location of his camera store where HRC is located; tourists stop and listen to him; “I have a question!” I ask. “How many chicken nuggets come in a box?”; the GLBT History Museum; matchbooks from gay bars and a digital slideshow of the fronts; will our bars also be part of history; pass a yard sale, find a framed pamphlet commemorating the opening of the Hall of Justice back in 1961; buy it for B., it’s too perfect; black and white, photo of the model of the building; the trees are small on the sidewalk; Dolores Park is vibrant in color; “Does that say Vegan Hats?” “No,” D. says. “Vegan EATS.” “I was going to say. Now the HATS are vegan too!?”; grills, dogs, beer bottles, sun and skin; down into the Mission, stop at Needles and Pens; what does the Mission look like to out-of-towners; graffiti alley connecting Valencia and Mission; tax the rich; at the Eagle, I check my picture frame and jacket; take my shirt off in the sun; walking home I look forward to giving Bryan the framed pamphlet; “I got a present for you!” “Oh no,” he says, haha!; he likes it; Project Runway, Veep, The Newsroom.