Rather than manipulating barrels of oil and oil prices like an adult, this boy in Afeq Iraq works the water bottle system every time we visit his station. The men in non-issue clothing are contractors that we escort to provide training to the IPs.
Thrice now, before we have even finished parking this boy, I'll call him Rupert, begins asking for a bottle. He goes from truck to truck asking with hand signals and Arabic bouncing around with unfailing enthusiasm till he succeeds. I think it's hilarious. Even if the gunner screams, or the elder Arab men tell him to go home, Rupert just keeps smiling and trying different windows and different trucks. After a while it does get a little annoying.
But here's the tycoon part. Once he gets a bottle, he trys to sell it back to us! Rupert holds it up and rubs a thumb on his index and middle finger with the bill-to-be in between, and makes a face. He'll ask for candy or, "give me anything!" He can hold out as long as we're there, even for hours. I got a little bit of video too and it looks a lot like he's dancing. When it's time to go Rupert just waves, usually settling for a candy bar or gatorade.
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