Life is Dangerous

"Life is Dangerous." These are the words of my Stromboli maker, Jack.

I pointed at the spinach stromboli and asked "is this the spinach calzone?" He looked at me and his expression said, "yeah why you want it?" but he said nothing. I asked "how much" to which he smiled and said it's $5.95 but for you it's $4.50 the rest goes as follows:

Stromboli Jack: Where are you from?
Me: New Jersey
Stromboli Jack: Where are your parents from?
Me: New Jersey
Stromboli Jack: Where did you go to college?
Me: Philadelphia

At this point I start to think okay enough truthful answers about me, turn the attention to him while he heats up my stromboli.

Me: Where are you from?
Stromboli Jack: New Jersey
Me: Where are your parents from?
Stromboli Jack: Milano, Have you been there?
Me: Yes, once.

As he packed up my lunch he leaned in toward me and mumbled something about college, law school and failing a bar exam. It was difficult to hear. The rest of what he said turned a little strange.

Stromboli Jack: Life is Dangerous
Me: No response
Stromboli Jack: You have to be careful, you hear me, this city is dangerous. Five years ago as I was coming out of a nigthclub a man came up to be from behind and broke my jaw. I spent five months in the hospital. He stole from me $15. You believe that for fifteen dollars?
Me: Oh, I'm sorry. That must have been terrible.
Stromboli Jack: Life is Dangerous. You have to be careful, you hear me, this city is dangerous, life is dangerous.

He hands me my stromboli and smiles and says "Have a nice weekend."
Me: Have a nice weekend! Thanks.