This is the first part of a three-part story. I found it among my email, sent to me by my brother-in-law Gary. The author is unknown.  If you know who he or she is, please tell me. I made minor changes. This post also appears at my blog “The Sisterhood of Beautiful Warriors.” 

Smelly, dirty, and cold, the old man spotted high heels in front of him, where he hunkered down on the sidewalk atop yesterday’s newspapers. He looked up, slowly.

The woman’s clothes spoke of wealth. Her coat: new. Her hair: shiny and curled. She looked healthy, happy and not hungry.

“Leave me alone,” he growled. The lady stood still and smiled.

“Are you hungry?” she asked.

“No,” he answered sarcastically. “I’ve just come from dining with the President. Now go away.”

The woman’s smile broadened. He felt a gentle hand under his arm.

“What are you doing, lady?” the man snarled. “I said to leave me alone.”

A police officer noticed the pair. ”Is there any problem, ma’am?” he asked.

“No problem here, officer,” the lady answered. “I’m just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?”

The officer scratched his head. “That’s old Jack. He’s been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?”

“See that cafeteria over there?” she asked. “I’m going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile.”

“Are you crazy, lady?” the homeless man resisted. “I don’t want to go in there!”

The officer grabbed his other arm and lifted him. “This is a good deal for you, Jack,” he said. “Don’t blow it.”

The lady and the police officer managed Jack to the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. “What’s going on here, officer?” he asked.”What is all this, is this man in trouble?”

“This lady brought this man in here to be fed,” the policeman answered.

“Not in here!” the manager replied. “Having a person like that here is bad for business.”

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. “See, lady. I told you so. Now if you’ll let me go. I didn’t want to come here in the first place.”

Question: Do you know a homeless person? Have you ever been homeless? Please leave a comment and encourage your sisters in Christ. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

You Are Beautiful, Lucy

Tags: homelessness, poverty

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