He has some stories to tell. One of them was about once when he and another guy were working in an area that was not good or bad. The other guy was a big black guy who was from the swamp parishes and he did not like New Orleans. This other guy always kept a rifle in his truck, even though it was against the rules. One time my neighbor and he were working on the same corner but on each side. A car backfired and this big black guy came running around with his rifle in his hands yelling "Tom are you alright, are you O.K." My neighbor looked up and he said he just had to laugh at the sight of his co-worker, as big as he was , standing there with a rifle and his eyes scanning all around, ready for battle.
Your neighbor’s friend/co-worker sounds like a decent and honorable man...
Very funny; the area was as frightening to the black co-worker as to him (and he was ready!).