Day Eight: Pass the Collection Plate

"Excuse me sir, you wouldn't happen to have a quarter on you by chance?" He's reaching. "Oh, a dollar, are you sure?" "Thank you." Mere footsteps between generosities. There's one. "Hey, sorry to bother you. Can you spare one of those cigarettes you have there? I have a dollar." "Oh, for free? Thank you. ...argh but I hate to ask, could I still buy a couple of those off of you for later?" Awesome, he's reaching back into his pack. "Three? Are you sure? You are too kind sir, thank you very much." Now to go catch my bus...damn, I hope I see a good meter close by.

If people could read my mind right now, they'd be able to see how I turned asking for a quarter into four cigarettes. I'm so glad they can't. They might think I'm some kind of scam.

Perfect, this one's nearly finished. So close to the bus stop yet, my lucky day....and here comes the first bus. I'll just start digging around in my pockets, making it all obvious and... "Hey, hi there! One of you kind souls wouldn't happen to have a loonie or a toonie? I must have lost mine! haha!" Oh, nice, three are reaching, let's see who wins. Inventor of the two dollar coin...genius. "Why thank you ma'am." "No that's okay guys, she covered it, all I need is two! You folks are too kind!" Did I just see that? That guy gave her his two dollars. Paid it forward. It's strange how they just keep on walking though, never looking back. I wonder if they where helping a person pay for their parking, or just helping a person with a coin...

If people would look back, they might see me still lingering around this meter. Which reminds me, I should never tell them I'm in a hurry.

I'll do a couple more buses then walk over to McDick's and grab a coffee, yeah, it's still early. "Hi there, you wouldn't happen to have a light?" "Great, thank you. Another nice day isn't it..." Seems he hates small talk. "Yup thanks again, see ya." Is that a bus I see, now where did I put that dollar.

Alright I've got 5 bucks and three cigarettes left. Coffee time. Just around the corner. I can already smell it. Who's this guy hanging out by the door. Maybe that's what I smelled. Oh, of course he wants a cigarette. "Dude, I've only a couple left"....."Well sure I can sell you one for a buck if that's what you're offering." Either he's just starting his round, or I'm better at this game than he is. I look like a "Mark" though. If things don't get better soon, I won't have this advantage out here.

So that's six dollars and two cigarettes. I'll have this morning coffee, then head back home. If I see a cigarette on the way, I'll ask. I hope I got an email about a job. It's too bad I don't have a phone, I bet that's why they never contact me. My resume looks good. Good enough for these jobs anyway. Phone number field, left blank. "Oh Hi there, can you spare a cig today?" "No? Hey no problem buddy!" There better be a message. Who applies for over thirty job positions and doesn't even get one answer back? Well at least I got enough money for a sub (sandwich) later. It's actually been a pretty good day so far. No messages...

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Oh! Hello! I didn't see you there. ~applause sign~ My name is @nonameslefttouse aka Damien. I'd like to take a brief moment to talk to you. I'm the author and survivor of the situation you just read about. I'd call it the cusp of homelessness. Those were dark days. The worst only lasted for about two weeks, that story from my mind was a glimpse of it. I had already been evicted for being late on rent. I was staying at a cousins house. At the time I owned a tv, two end tables, a bed that was given to me, this laptop, two suitcases; one with all my clothes inside and the other for little odds, ends, and my paper trail. It only took two months before the money ran out. I wasn't giving up though. I didn't want to go on a social assistance program. I honestly felt I would be getting hired at any moment...and there is so much more to the story!

It's easy to look down on those scavenging on the streets asking for change and smokes. When I first moved to that city, I was a little put off by them myself. When I was in the situation, I still at least had the benefit of clean clothes and hygiene. Many of the people who would give seemed to look at me like they were helping out one of their own. I'd see the looks some of the others would get...we've all seen those looks.

I have many more stories to come. My grammar does need work at times, bare with me. Writing has always been my passion. Have a look at my other efforts within this blog. Plenty of good, quick stuff to read with promises of a steady stream. You'll notice I'm not holding much back. My intro says a lot. Learning as I go. There's some sort of hidden message within majority of what I'd like to share, so I'm eating a few words I wrote in the intro as well. I don't mind learning the hard way. I'm doing all this "live!", as well. Each day something to add, each day growing and improving. A new piece of the puzzle. Hot off the press, never before seen. I experiment with different characters as well. There's much more to my writings than I thought there would ever be. Please take the time to enjoy them, if you wish.

Thank you for your ongoing support, it makes us all better people. I'll let you get back to your regularly scheduled reading now though. Have a nice day. ~subliminal message about upvoting and reading previous @nonameslefttouse for enjoyment as well~

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