Peter Aguero: The Entertainer - The Moth

Summary

Summary of "Peter Aguero: The Entertainer" - The Moth Podcast

Introduction to the Story In the episode titled "The Entertainer," Peter Aguero shares a gripping true story from his time working as an Italian Ice truck driver during his college summers. Released on February 23, 2010, this narrative was delivered live at the Moth Grand Slam in 2009 under the theme "Now or Never."

Peter’s Job with Super Cool Italian Ice Peter begins by reminiscing about his two summers driving an Italian Ice truck in Piscataway, New Jersey. He describes the job as the best he ever had, emphasizing the freedom and joy it brought him.

"I was selling happiness to children. This was a great, great job." ([01:39])

He details the operations of the truck, highlighting the autonomy he enjoyed and the strategy involved in optimizing sales routes. The environment was relaxed, allowing him moments of peace where he would zone out to music, creating a Zen-like meditative state.

"There was no boss in sight and I was selling happiness to children." ([01:39])

The Incident on the Fourth of July The narrative shifts to the pivotal day, July 4, 1999. While others were celebrating at barbecues, Peter was preparing for a busy day at a high school event featuring fireworks, a classic car show, and live bands. He strategically positioned his truck alongside established competitors like Mr. Softy and Good Humor, anticipating a lucrative day.

"On the 4th of July... I rolled up into the parking lot and staked out a spot." ([01:39])

The Conflict with Aziz As the day progressed, Peter noticed another Italian Ice truck entering the lot, driven by Aziz, a Middle Eastern man known for his tough demeanor. Initially friendly, the situation quickly escalated when Peter refused to shake Aziz's hand—a cultural faux pas.

"I refused his handshake, which is real bad to do apparently in Middle Eastern society." ([03:15])

Aziz's anger flared, leading to a physical altercation where Peter was punched in the face. The frustration and cultural misunderstandings culminated in a heated confrontation where both men were ejected by the police.

"He reached down and he punched me right in the face." ([03:35])

The Escalation Despite the initial clash, both men resumed their work separately. However, lingering tensions caused Peter to return, leading to a more intense showdown. The altercation became physical again, with Aziz wielding a hammer and attacking Peter. Demonstrating resilience, Peter managed to overpower Aziz, culminating in a violent struggle that left both men battered.

"And then I still kept choking him. Because you can't let another man do this to you." ([05:50])

The Aftermath and Reflection After the confrontation, Peter reflects on the absurdity and intensity of the experience. He recounts returning to his truck, exhausted yet proud of how he handled the situation. Despite the chaos, he concludes by affirming that this tumultuous event made his job the best he ever had.

"But that was the best goddamn job I ever had." ([07:45])

Key Insights and Conclusions Peter's story delves deep into themes of cultural misunderstanding, pride, and the thin line between camaraderie and conflict. Through his vivid storytelling, he highlights how a seemingly ordinary job can become a dramatic life event, shaping one's perceptions and resilience.

Notable Quotes

"I was selling happiness to children." ([01:39])
"I refused his handshake, which is real bad to do apparently in Middle Eastern society." ([03:15])
"That's it. One way or another, we finish this right now, old man." ([06:20])
"But that was the best goddamn job I ever had." ([07:45])

Conclusion Peter Aguero's "The Entertainer" is a compelling narrative that captures the essence of unexpected challenges and personal growth. His ability to convey intense emotions and dramatic events offers listeners a memorable and engaging story that underscores the unpredictable nature of life's journeys.

Transcript

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Dan Kennedy (1:09)

Welcome to the Moth Podcast. I'm Dan Kennedy and the Moth features true stories told live without notes. All stories from the podcast are taken from our ongoing storytelling series in New York, Los Angeles and from our tour shows across the country. Visit themoth.org the story you're about to hear by Peter Aguero was recorded live at the Moth Grand Slam in 2009 and the theme of the night was now or Never. And Peter told the winning story that night.

Peter Aguero (1:39)

All right, so for two summers in college I drove an Italian Ice truck in Piscataway, New Jersey. It was the best job I ever had. I drive around at four miles an hour. There was no boss in sight and I was selling happiness to children. This was a great, great job. Except for the last day. And even the last day wasn't so bad. Except for the last 20 minutes. The company was called Super Cool Italian Ice and it was located on the outskirts of New Brunswick, New Jersey in Industrial park behind a sign. It was a building and it was behind a sign that inexplicably said Jacoby Appliance Parts. Super Cool Tie and Ice was run completely by men of Middle Eastern descent and the boss was a guy named Mohammed who introduced himself to me as Mark and it was 1998. So Mark had a truck license to sell in each of the surrounding towns and he gave me Piscataway. Piscataway was a little small blue collar town A lot of families, a lot of kids and stuff. It was pretty good. If you've never driven an Italian ice truck or an ice cream truck or whatever, it's all a matter of looking at the map and it's all math. Trying to figure out the way you can hit the most amount of neighborhoods without doing a lot of backtracking. I did that and I was very successful at it the first summer. Well, you laugh all you want. At that point in my life, anything was a success. I really enjoyed this job for that first summer. And I would just like, I'd drop the transmission down in the second and I'd wedge my foot against a brake and light up a spliff and I'd just kind of do my thing, you know, and I would kind of zone out to the music. There was like a midi file of the entertainer playing over and over, over and over. It was almost like after the second week I would kind of lapse into like a Zen meditative state and everything was cool. So that first summer went well and Mark invited me to come back and work for the next summer. So that brings us to the story on the 4th of July in the year of our Lord 1999. While you guys were going to a barbecue, I was going to the icy truck yard. And I picked up my truck and I went out. And it was a slow day at first because people were having parties and they had their own desserts, but the real action was at the high school, Piscataway High School. They were going to have fireworks and there was going to be a classic car show and there was going to be bands playing and stuff. So about 5 o'clock I rolled up into the parking lot and staked out a spot. And there was already a Mr. Softy and, and Good Humor and another local guy named Little Jimmy. But it was all good. There was going to be plenty of business. So I kind of chilled out and waited for the people to come. When the people started to show up, I looked out my window and I saw another super cool Italian ice truck pull into the parking lot. It was driven by a guy named Aziz. Aziz was a little 40 year old spark plug of a guy. He looked like a bulldog on steroids and he was so angry. And so. So I went up to his truck when he parked and I said, hey man, he was smiling and he went to shake my hand. I refused his handshake, which is real bad to do apparently in Middle Eastern society. So he went to shake my hand. I refused and I said, what's going on, man? This isn't South Plainfield. Because he was supposed to work in South Plainfield. When I looked over like this, his reaction was. His face turned to a scowl, and he reached down and he punched me right in the face. I'd never been punched in the face before, so it was kind of shocking. And my first reaction was blind rage. And I went to open up the door to pull him out and beat him to death, and he started reaching under the seat like he had a gun. I was like, fuck, this is not worth it. The cops came over and they kicked us both out. So Aziz went his way, and I went my way, but my way happened to pass by a park near the high school. So I saw a bunch of families laying out blankets and stuff. So I was like, all right, I'll go here. And I found a cop over there. He said, aren't you the guy that got kicked out? I said, here's a free cherry lemon. And he said, all right, park on the grass over there. So it was a success. So for the next four hours, it was purgatory. I was bent over in a. It was essentially an 89 Chevy van with a white cap on top of it and a cooler full of dry ice in the back. And for four hours, I was bent over, scooping and scooping and scooping and scooping, and the light fell out of the sky. And then I heard fireworks. And I didn't see them. I could just kind of vaguely see the shadows coming. It was the weirdest 4th of July I ever had. And then it was about 11:00 at night, and things were all done. My hands were cramped up in a rictus, like I was, you know, doing the Sanford and Son impression. And then I counted out my pile of dollar bills. I made 800 bucks, which my take was like 250. So I took my truck, I went back to the yard. It's like 11 o'clock. I counted out, and Mark was really happy with my take for the day, and he gave me an extra $50, told me to take the next day off. And I said, mark, you know your boy Aziz punched me in the face. And Mark said, you can't let a man get away with something like that. Next time, hit him back. This is my boss. So while I was contemplating that, I got in my car, my Oldsmobile, and I went to drive off, but it didn't have a reverse gear. So I put it in neutral and pushed it back like Fred Flintstone and got out of the parking spot. And went on my way. As I was leaving the parking spot, Aziz was pulling in and our eyes met and he was saying something I couldn't make out, but I'm sure I think I saw fat was one of the parts that he was saying. I drove away, though, but I got 300 yards down the road, and then all of a sudden something snapped and I turned around and I came back and I threw my car in the park and I jumped out and I said, that's it. One way or another, we finish this right now, old man. Because apparently I'm a samurai. Aziz starts digging around in the back of his ice cream truck, and Mark comes over to me to calm me down. Another dude goes over to calm him down. And then Aziz turns around and shoves the two guys into me. Comes at me like the hand of God. And I feel a hit on my head and a hit back here, another hit there, and my vision clears. He's got a hammer and he's beating me in the head with a hammer. So I picked him up underneath his crotch like I was hacksaw Jim Duggan, and I threw him down on the asphalt parking lot. And he's on his back and he's swinging at my nuts with the hammer. I'm not gonna put up with that shit. So I went to grab it, but I overbalanced and my thumb slipped into his mouth. And he bit through my right thumbnail into the meat of my thumb. And he held on like a little fucking bulldog. And I took my left hand and I put it on his throat and I put my considerable weight behind it and I started choking him. And I was choking him and choking him till he stopped moving. And then I still kept choking him. Because you can't let another man do this to you. Just then, four dudes pulled me off of Aziz. Three other guys picked him up under the armpits and dragged him off into the dark, leaving two little trails where his heels like he's in a cartoon. I got in my car and I drove back to my empty apartment. I ordered Chinese food and put ice on my swollen cut face. But that was the best goddamn job I ever had.