I sat quietly, sipping my coffee, smoking my cigarette and staring at the book in my lap. I say staring because I had stopped reading when the conversation began.
"I mean, really man, think about it, our generation man, we were screwed." I noticed a few teens nodding their heads in agreement. "They had everything, you know, just handed to them man, on a silver fuckin platter man and we have to pay for it."
He leaned back on to the bench and took a drag of his cigarette. The kids looked at him like he was a sage of their generation, a messiah with a message of rebellion. He spoke with such conviction, such passion I was sure that none of these kids would question him. By the look of him he didnt belong to their generation, he didnt even belong to mine. The group starred at him in awe waiting for the next thread of wisdom, as he blew a thin ring of smoke and leaned forward again.
"Seriously, think about this man, the social security manno just listen," He shook his hand at someone about to speak. "You think youll ever get any of that? Fuck no! They," He pointed his finger into the distance. "They are taking whats yours man. You work your ass of to have something for the day man and you aint gonna have shit, aint gonna have security. They take the system man, they own the system."
He let the pause drag on, taking a sip of his coffee.
"But..."
"No buts man, if you cant see it you are just fuckin blind man."
"Yeah, dude. A girl with blond hair chimed in." I hid my smile behind my book.
"I drive these fuckers everyday man. You have any idea how much they got? They get into my car man, these old dickheads man; they get into my car with their wives or girlfriends man," He shook his head, his face full of agony. "And they rub it in man, you know? The just stick it to you. And where did he get the dough to begin with, from me, man."
"Dude, I head that, they already, you know, they spent all the money in social security." A boy in his early 20s spoke up. His peers stared at him in surprise.
"Exactly! Its all gone man." He shook his head and stood up. "Well, I got to roll. Work my ass of for someone else."
He finished his coffee and tossed the empty cup into the garbage. He strolled over to his cab and got in. 80s industrial blasted from the open windows.
"Who is that guy?" asked the blond girl.
"I dont know."
"He is really smart." She whispered.
I put away my book, finished my coffee and went to class.

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