#2

Sunday, February 28, 2010

The corner of Lee Street and Ralph David Abernathy, West End Mall, 10:45 am.

I had anticipated there would be someone on the exit off I-20, but there wasn't and I admit I was a tad disappointed. We were on our way to church and so everyone was in the car and I thought it would be a good opportunity for everyone to share in the experience.

As we drove along Lee Street, I noticed a tall middle-aged black man in a blanket and dreadlocks walking up to the bus stop. We were stopping at the light as we pulled along side him. He looked at me and I smiled at him through the window but he looked away. He walked up the bus stop bench and sat down. There was a plate of food there which appeared to be from the local sandwich shop and was probably left there by someone getting on the bus. It looked like mostly cole-slaw and the man picked it up and started eating. When the light changed we were able to pull up and I rolled down the window. He instantly put down the plate and stood up, approached and accepted the lunch with thanks.

The older kids didn't say much, but the four year old pipes up, "Mommy and Daddy, when I grow up, I want to be a homeless person so Mommy will give me a lunch."