They probably had little in common with me as the dirty, hungry traveling girl of all those years ago.
“The hardest part is expenses with my van – about $300 every month in gas, just driving around town!”
She’s the lovely one. With a giant key around her neck.
“My daughter’s birthday is coming up. You understand what I’m saying?”
“I injured my back in ’89 and haven’t been able to do any of my trades since then.”
I could hear her patiently explaining the consignment policy.
“We really are struggling right now. This is a huge blessing.”
“Yeah, I’m waiting for the bus now.”
Betty had some words for me. “Think about your mother today.”
A manager came over, more officious than helpful.
They told me their name was Andrea, both of them.
“Oh, that’s too much!” she cried. “I could never take that!”
He’s got a roof over his head for now.
I caught up with the man as he was locking his bike up on the rack.
She tucked the bill into her mother’s hand.
“You really got me right here,” he said, patting his chest.
Kyle said all each of us can do is be ourselves.
I followed her out of the bathroom as she headed back to work.
I caught up with the two of them as they were leaving the store.
Smell and taste something delicious today. Savor every molecule.
I couldn’t make out all the words but I loved their folksy yet ethereal and slightly gritty sound.
As I walked home, there were signs of spring everywhere.
“They say I’m a perfect candidate for a transplant.”
He’d been feeling pretty down, and just trying to accept that things were going to be tough for a while.
Dylan said he believes if you have a positive attitude that things will work out.
They were visiting from Bellingham. They like rocks. They were hungry.
“Well, we sure could use it! Thank you!”
There was quite a lot of conversation and camaraderie among people as they waited their turn.
His friend was working the check stand today. “So I was in his line, making small talk.”
I asked the dad how they landed on the street and he told me he lost his job as a painter.
They are staying with their parents right now, along with four foster kids ages 9 and up.
Then he said, “You want something? You want to go shopping?”
“I know exactly what I’m going to do,” she said somberly.
She said she takes care of Amaya one or two days a week and has ever since she was a baby.
What came next caught me off guard.
The man smiled and shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
He took one last look at the elderly woman, then started pushing the empty cart to the cart return.
He used to be a tree trimmer. In 1994 there was an accident in which he fell 60 feet.
The man shook his head again, and the despair started to pour out of him.
I thought I would be smarting for days after my encounter with Charlie, but I was fine. I’ve pondered our exchange a lot, and mostly find myself grateful that our paths converged. I got many encouraging emails and comments about the story, and am grateful for that as well. You readers are a kind and […]
