Cairo’s Back Streets 1989
My Money's Worth
It was late afternoon. The slanting rays of the sun lit this man and his cart beautifully and I stood across the street from him snapping photo after photo. He ignored me, but there was no way he didn’t know that I was photographing him.
When I thought I had the shot I wanted, I crossed the street to give him some money. (I often pay people like this man. I’ve used them as my model and models get paid, don’t they?) When I handed some money to him, he didn’t take it. Instead he began putting some fruit into a sack. He weighed it and then took my money after handing me the fruit.
I didn’t want the fruit. I wasn’t sure what it was. (Maybe it was quince.) I tried to give it back, but then he gave the money back. After a few seconds, I realized that his pride prevented him from taking money without giving me it’s value in fruit. His pride made me remember this moment. Pride can be a virtue.