Never Give Up

by Precious

(Stop can be a dangerous word)

I interrupted a debilitating lifestyle of a dear friend. He always carries three to four large bags filled with unused items. Andre claims he uses these things. I know he doesn’t—because he never understands—he needs 2 change his clothes and shoes. Everyday he wears the same dirty clothes. Walks up 2 people yelling at them whether they exit or not. Each time I see him I say, are you going 2 hang out with me one day? He answers, yes. You need 2 lose the bags. I said that one day, and then he didn’t have any bags, we hung out, went to Starbucks. The beginning of the end? He got a job, hair cut, shave, clean clothes. Saying positive words, and doing some of them. This went on 4 a year and a half.

Andre’s life living the streets for over twenty-five years, not knowing where, what corner to doze off on. Knowing the staff will kick him out any time they choose, but life’s a gamble. Thank God for the church. We are allowed 2 sleep on the steps and await the Midnight Run or anyone who wants 2 donate food, necessities. It doesn’t matter if it’s ninety degrees, snow, rain, or below zero, this is where I sleep and how I sleep. Getting my cardboard box together each night preparing 4 bed. Sometimes I don’t sleep, just walk around all day taking care of my make believe business. Trying 2 get something 2 eat at the soup kitchen or someone might give me food outside. But when I sit down I’m out like a light. That’s when people get mad at me when I’m on private property, they bang on the tables, hit you, yell at you (Wake Up). Your nerves are shocked at times. Showers are at a scheduled time, not mine. They’re at different places, some are long distance. There are times when I don’t feel like showering. Sometimes the odor builds up but I don’t smell it, others do. Wearing the same clothes daily is fine with me. No one can tell. Yeah, everything fits in my bag with things I need, others seem 2 differ. What do they know?

2 years have passed. Janet is tired of this order, dirty clothes, not trying 2 achieve any progress. So she warns him, please change, it’s very hard 2 be around you with the foul odor. He said he would but one day he stopped and lost his job. Lied about it, he told her he had another one. The five hundred he had saved disappeared in one day. He said someone stole it. The Section 8 application he claimed 2 have filed, he never applied. One day he came around; he had lost about 100 pounds. He said he wasn’t eating. She found out he had tracks running on his arms, and legs and little needle marks. He always fell asleep but never fell down on the street. She confronted him. He denied it, of course. But as they talked something fell out of his pockets. A needle with a couple of syringes. Please explain that. Andre was so embarrassed he left and never came back around her.

Never give up.

He stopped.

I’ll always be his friend no matter what he goes through.