A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE Hiroya, the crazy Japanese painter, was hanging out in the chelsea hotel's lobby as usual, annoying tourists. I said Hi to him as I came in the door and walked by him to the elevator. The elevator was already there, so I got right on, but before the door could close, Hiroya decided he had to tell me something. He ran after me and stuck his hand in the elevator just as it was about to close, and stood there in the door jabbering away excitedly. “What?!†I said. “What is it?!†He didn’t speak very good English, and I couldn’t understand a word he was saying. It was then I noticed that Magda was standing behind him, trying to get on the elevator. A dancer in her prime, Magda was now a prim, white-haired old lady in an immaculate green suit. I saw her trying to get on, but I couldn’t get a word in edgeways. But it didn’t matter. Magda was not one to be intimidated by anybody, that’s for sure. “Excuse me!†she said loudly. “I’m trying to get on the elevator. Do you mind?†Hiroya jumped aside immediately. “Oh, sorry! Sorry!†As soon as the door shut and we were on our way up, the old lady asked, “What in the world did he want from you?†It seemed clear from her tone of voice that she despised Hiroya. Wanting to distance myself from him, I said, “I have no idea.†It was the truth, after all. “Hmmm. He probably wanted to show you his paintings.†“Yeah, that's probably it,†I said. At this point I didn’t dare admit that he lived on my floor and that I had already bought two of his paintings. Then all at once Magda seemed to soften toward Hiroya—a fellow artist after all. “Well, he's new around here,†she said. It’s an unspoken rule that you don’t bother the other residents with too much self-promotion. Everybody here has their own artistic irons in the fire. “I'm new around here too,†I said. “Well, at least you don't go hawking your wares in the lobby!†I laughed. “No, not yet I haven't.†“I suppose there's still plenty of time,†Magda said, rolling her eyes. Maybe. I never did find out what Hiroya was so excited about that day. Perhaps he had sold a painting, or accosted a celebrity who had come through the lobby. It was probably nothing, but whatever it was, he took it with him to the grave.Hiroya was found dead on 23rd street and 8Av on Febuary 29,2004 is was 38. He was on reab for about a year.... ( Ed Hamilton)..