The next day, I bumped into Keanu Reeves outside Panne Chocolat in Hollywood. I hadn’t seen him since we’d worked on ‘Speed’; I’d played the third SWAT team cop in the subway during the final chase scene. On this particular afternoon, I'd just left Larry's World of Protein Shakes after picking up a Soy-Guava Muscle Builder. Keanu and I were both trying to park our cars in the same spot along Franklin. He started to inch his Mercedes in front of my Hyundai. I leaned my head out the window.
"Hey Keanu—I'm parking here."
"Dude, I was here first."
"No you weren't."
"Yes I was."
I took a sip of my protein shake and climbed out of my car. "Look, you know I've always respected you. I love 'Point Break' and all. But I'm tellin' you, I was already backing into that spot."
"No you weren't, dude."
"Yes I was. I had my reverse light on."
"But you didn't have your signal on."
"Doesn't matter."
I paused and took a sip of my protein shake. Keanu looked at the shake. He pointed to it. "Dude, is that a Larry's shake?"
"Yup."
"Ahh, that's good stuff."
"Yeah."
Keanu smiled. "Anyone who's into protein shakes is all right with me." He gave me a funny look and repeated himself: "Anyone who's into protein shakes is all right with me."
Suddenly I felt light-headed. I tried to look at Keanu, but he was gesturing with his hand. He smiled at me. "This isn't the parking spot you're looking for."
I nodded. "This isn't the parking spot I'm looking for..."
"You're about to drive away."
"I'm about to drive away," I repeated.
"Keanu Reeves is a great actor."
"Keanu Reeves is a great actor..."
"Move along."
"Yeah..."
I smiled, got in my car, and drove away.
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