"By the way," you say as the two of you cross to the next tree-shaded block, "what was up with that protest you were in?"
"Uh, yeah. So." Manish trails off.
You know from experience that he'll need a nudge to discuss the protest. "My guess is that the college is buying downtown buildings, and you're not for that?"
"Got it in one." Manish rubs the back of his neck. "I don't want to put you in an awkward position."
"I can handle it."
"Okay. It's their so-called 'Billington Future' plans. The WP wants to buy some old unused buildings at the end of the main drag."
Manish stops instead of crossing the next street. "Me and a lot of other businesses are trying to make a living. If the college expands into downtown, it'll drive up rents and push us out."
"But it could revitalize downtown."
"Does downtown look abandoned?"
You look around at the mostly empty sidewalks. "Kind of?"
"You're going to swan back into town after years away with no understanding of what we've been doing down here—" Manish stops. "You know what, it's too early in the morning. Never mind." He crosses the street and leaves you behind.
"Manish—hey, Manish, wait!" You scramble to catch up with him. "Sorry. I didn't mean to start a fight about this."
"It's fine," he says, even though it clearly isn't. "I'll drop it."
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