Mark Phillips' Pages: Workbook: 8/13/04: Teenie dudes in high spirits.

Jacob Lawrence, "Depression" (1950) — Jacob Lawrence, *Depression* (1950)

August 13, 2004:

Teenie dudes in high spirits. Jokes, laughter, shining metal braces.

Loud voice two tables over is directed at them. "DON'T SAY THAT ABOUT MY JESUS." Anger, confrontation: an aggressive voice that implies, I'm plenty acclimated to violence.

Heavy man, thirtyish, strong. Reddish hair, freckles. Prison ink. Something he's heard one of the boys say has offended him, or, something he thinks he's heard.

"JESUS IS MY GOD. DON'T TALK THAT WAY ABOUT MY GOD."

Tension. The boys go silent. The room goes silent.

Bully. Misinformed. Jesus says love the little children, not threaten them.

Intervene? Or watch and document for posterity? While thinking of Germany and the Jews and America and freedom.

Depression as unsatisfied anger.