Along 5th Avenue, steps from the Apple Store where the food carts foist their wares, there’s a man gesturing wildly. He’s five foot-ten, somewhere in his forties, with a MAGA hat topped on his head. His cheeks are as flushed as his cap as waves off this kid selling Wayback Burgers. A guy in the Nathan’s cart nearby sticks his head out to see what’s happening. When the light turns red at 59th Street, the man looks as rusty as the Wayback window as his jerks up an arm.
“I’ll get it for cheaper! What a rip — what a stinkin’ — “
and he stops just short of the counter.
The kid says, “Look — that’s what it is. That’s — whadaya want?”
“I’m gonna get it cheaper!” the man seethes back. “November 5th comin’ — November 5th comin’ — “
“What?” returns the kid. And I’m about to guess the answer when
“Trump is King!”
He’s spinning away from the counter now, a fist punching out toward the sky.
Then “Fuck Trump — nah! — Christ is King!”
A couple outmaneuvers his fist.
But as he stammers on the sidewalk, it’s suddenly “No, fuck that! No — Trump is King! Nah — “
And he turns toward the Apple store still gleefully undecided about which is which, or who is who.
All photos by Rick Stachura.
(1) East 83rd Street and Park Avenue. October 22, 2024.
(2) East 53rd Street and 5th Avenue. October 31, 2024.
(3) 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church. October 1, 2024.
(4) 2nd Avenue, between East 51st and East 52nd Street. June 14, 2024.
(5) 5th Avenue and East 55th Street. October 31, 2024.
(6) 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church. November 10, 2024.