Powershot Elph Elegy

I was trolling through the park last Monday. I noticed this cute Spanish-looking guy talking to another Black guy with locks. I continued on to a more secluded spot and just chilled, noticed the birds in the trees, breathing the fresh air. A couple of minutes pass by and the Spanish-looking guy walks by and then walks back up to me. He said his name was Aaron. He was so charming, so disarming. I felt quite comfortable inviting him up to my house, even though he looked much older than I originally had guessed. His face had a really hard look, but I guess his demeanor made it appear to be softer. I said, "So, wassup?" which initiated the sex talk. We exchanged proclivities that seemed to be compatible, so I offered my home for a rendezvous. There were signs, though, that would have told me to beware, if only I listened:

• He used the word 'cock' initially. (Usually, that's enough right there!)
• He asked for details about me (where I lived, what I did for a living) that he didn't provide about himself.
• He went from being well-spoken and having a charming, boyish personality to this other person, manic and erratic, during sex (if you could call it that). He moved around a lot in ways that didn't seem to make any sense.
• He had what I believe was a scar caused by the removal of a bullet. He made up some ridiculous story about surgery he had when he was three months old, but scars don't grow with you, do they? *rolls eyes*

Afterwards, he needed a shower; I merely had to wash my hands, my sheets and my dildo. He didn't seem to take that long, really. Apparently, he had left his original demeanor with his clothes and was ready to go once fully dressed in both. I gave him my business card and scratched down my number (another personal rule I broke; he hadn't offered his). I thought "Maybe the sex was a fluke, but he seems like a really nice guy ... sure I'd talk to him again."

I was kind of angry when, about an hour later, I noticed that my camera was no longer where I'd placed it before this interlude. A friend of mine had asked me about cameras; so its memory was seated firmly in the short-term. I resisted the urge to tear my place apart looking for it; I knew it had been stolen. All at once, all of Aaron's lies just seemed to cascade into clarity and into prominence; I knew I had been duped. I knew I had to take some of the blame. But I also knew that I could and would get another camera, so I let it go. Aaron said he would call later that night, but I'd already learned not to expect the truth.

He called two nights later. Initially I was shocked, but it made sense - the camera he stole from me didn't have a battery in it. It uses proprietary rechargeable batteries that are expensive (each extra is $50). Funny, one such battery was sitting right next to the camera. It was still there after he left, albeit alone. And the battery charger that he needed (which was plugged into the wall at the foot of the same shelf) also cost $50. My first thought? He was trying to come back for the accessories. He said "You know, I'm just calling because I really had a great time. So, what did you do today?" And eventually, "So, what are you doing tonight?" I played it cool, though; I acted like I had been SO busy - too busy to notice a trifle like a missing camera. Just so busy! Too busy to entertain that evening, but open to talking again some other time. My mind was racing - WHY weren't any of the few people I'd told available?!? Once I made myself unavailable for the evening, the conversation fizzled. He said, "Cool, I'll talk to you soon." and I said "Sure!"

Immediately after I hung up with him, I called the Gay Officers Action League's hotline - (212) NY1-GOAL - and recounted to a machine my current scenario and subsequent lack of success reporting it to the police. Yes, earlier that day, I went to file a report at my local precinct. Officer Davis looked at my story quizzically, as if he had never heard of or could imagine anyone inviting a new acquaintance over for sex. And he was busy - the phones were ringing all over the place as his co-workers chatted him up. He didn't even look like he was going to reach for a form or a pen. After a while, he seemed to be paying me no mind. I tried to be patient, but after about 20 minutes, I just picked up my things from the counter in the most matter-of-fact manner I could muster, turned towards the door and left. Fuck being victimized twice ...

That night I went to John's house and he asked about the camera that had up until then been so ubiquitous in my life. I knew this would be the first of many people who would ask me the very same question, so I confessed and told him the whole story. He was visibly concerned, suggesting that I lure Aaron back to my place to facilitate an ambush. I took someone else's advice though and decided to try to talk to him. The next time he called, I began to use the same phony affectation, but dismantled it by saying, "Look, I know you stole my camera. I'm not trying to involve the police. I don't care about prosecuting you. All I want is my camera." He denied it before I even finished my sentence, saying he just called out of friendship and that now he was insulted. I don't think he listened to anything I said after that, but I was calm, cool and collected. During his rant, he asked "So, how big was it? Could I have put it in my pocket?" His guilt would have been immediately apparent and crystalline to anyone who has ever seen my camera. I just asked, "Why would you ask me that?" The phone call continued to go nowhere and ended with him saying, "Yeah, you go to the police! I'm going, too." before he hung up.

So, the next day, I went back to the police. It was a much different scenario; as I told my story, Officer Vasquez pulled out a form and starting filling it out. He prompted me, finished filling out the form, asked to see the receipt for my camera, had me sign something and gave me a number to call the next day for my complaint number. When I got back, a retired officer from GOAL called and gave me some good tips about maneuvering throughout the complaint process.

However, I had already chalked up the loss and was contemplating my next purchase. Yeah, I missed turning it on and hearing my niece say "Take my picture!" and I thought about how it got me back into doing something I really love (and how it heightened my blogging experience), but the danger of this whole thing really put it into perspective for me. I let my desire dull my judgement, but that happens to the best of us. I'm still a good person. I got away with my life; I can always get another camera. I put the accessories up for sale yesterday.