SELLER OF SOURSAP

Essays

On E. 135th St. in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, below the Deegan expressway, soursop is for sale. One summer we met and talked quite a few times. Unfortunately neither of us knew what we were saying. But I learned about graviola, commonly called soursop.

Guanabana, while not very illegal, the FDA has problems with it, and, i guess selling it in the middle of four lanes of one-way traffic where East 135th Street crosses Third Avenue, is a good spot.

To come all the way to this city, live in Manhattan, work the Bronx, selling soursop is something. And he was happy, all the time. Selling nothing but soursap.

This was a tremendous spot for traffic, and all along 135th which is lined with large housing projects on the north side of the street. On hot days ice water sellers would come out in full force. I haven’t seen this guy since we met in 2017. Most of the soursap i see is up in my neighborhood, along the exit ramps on the Deegan, and in upper Manhattan, which is where he lived.

There was no missing him and his soursap. He was good and brave.

He was always happy, and when he worked, he was really happy.