KIANA MESBA, 24, EAST BROADWAY

Apparently everybody’s been talking about the Iranian presidential election scam, but I wouldn’t know. I tried to read up on it but everybody in the articles has similarly strange names and the details just slide together. When I rode past Kiana outside a women’s shelter, however, I abandoned all concerns about shackled journalists and nuclear threat and asked her for an interview. As we talked she would pat the patches of stubble that poked through her heavy foundation, and every now and again she’d push up the corners of her bust all nice and slow and give me a coy smirk. As strongly as this beauty’s allure was working itself on me, I was a bit jolted when a teenager holding fans of dollar bills strode past and whispered, “Yo, that’s a fucking dude, bro.”

Peter: Hey, can I talk to you about the election in Iran?

Kiana: Sure, honey, you can talk to me.

Cool! Can I take your picture, too?

Is this for the internet? I can’t have myself all over there. I don’t look good today.

I think you look fine today.

You do? OK, but let me put some lipstick on. Ooh! I’m going to get me my earrings, I’ll be right back. Just hold on.

[Disappears through metal-detector and into building for ten minutes. Returns, drops a magazine and a bag of red licorice on the sidewalk and begins posing]

OK. Ready?

Have you been following the news about the presidential election in Iran? They just reelected their president, but people are saying the results are fraudulent and they’re launching huge protests in the streets–

–Mm-hmm.

[Finishes posing. Picks up bag of licorice and begins eating them]

…So they’re doing a recall. Just like the election with George W. Bush.

No, I don’t know.

Oh, I’m confused by the whole thing. What’s a news story you’ve been following?

You know. I think you stepped on my candy, like, really bad. [Chews while making a face]

I’m sorry.

Oh my God! They taste like the bottom of your sneakers. [Throws the bag to the sidewalk]

Oh. Do you want me to buy you a new bag?

That would be nice. No—actually, I want a drink because it’s only a dollar-fifty. Can you spend that much?

Yeah, sure.

Um, it’s a Bacardi Silver.

Are you allowed to drink those? [I motion toward the shelter]

Ya-hum. As long as they have the bag on it, it’s fine.

What color do you want?

They’re all clear. I want the raspberry flavor.

What’s the last news story you’ve paid attention to? The last anything.

I don’t pay attention to any news stories. I’m the worst person to give information.

What is some local news you’ve heard?

Well, what I heard was there was this child that got shot accidently. Some jerk out in the street was being totally violent and out of control. He was firing at random. It was during the day. The kid was just out at the wrong time. It happened somewhere that wasn’t here. I heard about that where I work. I’m a staffer at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. That’s just what I overheard. But I’m not one to be reading newspapers—I don’t find them interesting. I read magazines like Vibe. What I do is I flip through it at see what celebrities are on the pages.

What’s an issue you’d like people to know about—maybe something you’re facing at the Parks Department?

New York City’s parks are great. They have a few activities. It’s cool. A lot of people appear there and I see they have a good time. When I first started there was a kite event. The kids loved it. They ran around with their kites flying in the air. It was great. They also have flea markets where you can buy groceries.

What’s the story with this building right here?

This is an embarrassment. This is an all-female shelter. That is where I am at now. Up here it is very inappropriate for people who go through what I go through. But it can be a very nice humble building—I just haven’t witnessed it. They have it all as far as people go, but what I go through is a lot of shadiness. Like the kooky, the mean, the realness of people. It’s rude. Ugh. I’ve been here seven months, but I’m from the Bronx. I’d rather be there. I can’t handle this place, but I’m bearing with it.

Is it because you’re—different?

Yeah, it’s because I’m very different. Very, very different.

Maybe they’re jealous. You think about that?

Um, yeah. I know it, but I just don’t believe it. I don’t see the jealousy. I see a lot of the arrogance. What I get from in here is the childish behavior.

Maybe it’s just that the others wish they could be a … a badass bitch like you. Um…

…That could be it.

Well let me go get your drink.

I’ll go with you.

[Walk to store; Buy her the drink.]

OK, thanks for the interview. I… I should get going.

Oh, you’re leaving so soon.

Yeah. See you!

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