Anis

It starts with a migraine
which you curse as you tell your friend
you must leave her celebration dinner
and then walk two blocks in heels
praying for mercy in the shape of a cab
When one pulls over for you
the yellow is too bright
and you must put on your dark shades
telling the driver to take La Cienega
You ask if he has GPS
he laughs and taps his head
then passes right by the place
you told him to turn
"I will tell you a secret," he says
pointing across the highway,
"That is your La Cienega
there are six lights we would have hit
but on this unknown parallel street
we will fly past them all!"
His eyes sparkle in the rear view mirror
knowing he has surprised you
He tells you his name is Anis
you wonder if he was named after the spice
"No," he turns serious, "it means honest one."
You tell him that your name means "friend"
and he smiles, it is a good name
You take off your glasses
and are able to see the shadow
that passes over his features
when you ask where he is from
"Somalia" is his one word reply
You tell him there is a Top Chef
from Somalia but he says it can't be so
You insist it is so, checking your i-phone
only to discover you are wrong
You tell him that you are an idiot
the chef was from Ethiopia
He laughs, "We do not have Top Chefs
we have War Lords, have you heard of War Lords?"
You nod and then feebly mention
Black Hawk Down
"That is just a movie," he says,
"the truth is much worse."
You wish you could say you understand
but it is clear you do not
He asks you what you do for a living
embarrassed you tell him you are a writer
but he is very excited at the news
"Could you could write my story?"
You say you don't really write drama
"Good," he smiles, "My story is a cartoon.
It is about animals and love and courage --
the things this world needs."
There is passion in his voice
so you encourage him to write it
but he looks ashamed
explaining that English is his second language
and he is not so good at writing
"I will tell you my story,
I know I can trust you."
You ask him how he knows
and he reminds you of his name
"You must be honest to know honest."
He slows at a corner and adds,
"I know you are real because you look me in the eyes."
You think maybe he knows he is real now too
your eye contact proves that he is here
and not back there
When you get to your stop he wishes you well
takes your hand in his and tells you to look both ways
and it isn't until he has sped away
that you realize your migraine is gone
and you believe it is very possible
that some angels come from Africa