Agape or Platonic

Daniel and Jack are walking around downtown, and they're in the rundown area behind the beer parlor. Some toughs are gathered around an old car. Two of them are bent over, talking to the people inside. One is an overweight squarish man, with a huge endomorph middle. Characteristically low slung pants barely hang on his no-waist hips, and a none too clean blue T-shirt fails by far to meet the pants, leaving bare an expanse of distended light blue-gray mottled skin sporadically tufted with black hair. The leaning over accentuates this exposure. Jack has a strong feeling of revulsion.

As they come alongside, Jack says "Hey, buddy. You're gonna lose your pants."

Dan stares at Jack, mouth open wide.

The man slowly straightens up and turns around. He's huge! Jack wonders if his big mouth has taken him too far this time.

Slow, deliberate "What's it to you? Who the hell are you?"

Jack, smiling what he hopes is a relaxed friendly smile, "Ooh, uh. I just wouldn't want you to be embarrassed."

Not quite sure what to make of this, the man just squints. His friend has seen Jack around, and thinking it better to avoid trouble, decides to intervene. Softly he says "Come one, forget it. He's alright."

Glancing over, the big man grunts. "Hmmph. Let's get a beer. I'm thirsty." They both walk away, officiously ignoring the two young students.

"Vick, are you crazy! Are you suffering from a death wish or something? What on earth did you do that for?"