‘Suddenly, a Sanitation Worker Jumped Out of the Truck’s Cab’

Hosed Down

Dear Diary:

I was walking my dog on an extremely hot, humid July morning when I passed a porter hosing down the sidewalk in front of an apartment building in Lenox Hill.

There was a garbage truck stopped at a nearby traffic light. Suddenly, a sanitation worker jumped out of the truck’s cab, ran onto the sidewalk and threw his arms straight up in the air.

Accepting the invitation, the porter turned the hose on him.

“Way to go!” I shouted to the two of them through my laughter.

The sanitation worker climbed back into the truck.

“Hey, baby,” he yelled as the truck began to drive off, “it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!”

— Kristen Bihary