Elvis And I

——

Stanely is a wedding singer. He also performs Karaoke. Stanley is a fan.

Stanley is Elvis the Second. And rightfully so, declares his business card.

Dressed in gold, shuffling in the summer heat, he poses for me, despite my suggestions not to. His suit is temporary, but his hair and the signature glasses are not.

We walk through a train station, exchanging hellos and sideways glances with the crowd. Quizzical looks fly our way.

Don’t you step over my suede blue shoes...

When we finally walk inside a pub, someone screams, “Elvis is in the building!”

“I was a sorry sight after I returned from Vietnam! I had a drinking problem, and you will not believe this, but it was so bad that my would-be wife’s parents would use me as an example for the kind of guy that she should never want to hang out with! Ha ha!

Well, now, I don’t drink at all, not a drop!”

While I drink, and click pictures, Stanley sips on a tall glass of water. I try to catch him off guard, but he recovers too quickly, immediately alert to the camera, perhaps, even squints in anticipation, behind the dark glasses.

A little less conversation, A little more action please…

We walk out, and  past another pub. Someone screams from inside, “Elvis has left the building!”

And all this time, Stanley nods, smiles and strikes a pose for the perpetrators.

Treat me like a fool, Treat me mean and cruel, But love me…

We walk aimlessly, into a Starbucks.

Stanley booms over the regurgitating mixer behind the counter, “Hey amigo, how are you doing?”

And amigo shoots back, “Hey Elvis! What upppp? I am doing good!”

I click them (Stanley asks me to).

“What’s your friend’s name?” I ask Stanley.

“Amigo,” is the reply.

If this was a joke, I was no longer amused. I felt utterly exhausted trying to capture Stanley, not Elvis. And was getting increasingly annoyed by the shrilly group of teenage girls gravitating towards us.

Then, amidst the distractions, Stanley reveals:

“I don’t call people by their name!

(incredulous look)

I call this one Amigo, I call the other one ….

(laughter)

Maybe because…I myself don’t have a name. You know what? Elvis is still alive. Stanley…? He was dead a long long time ago.”

(click)

- The Juicer at work