Allister saw an old man one day. He looked like his grandfather or my grandfather or your grandfather, slightly bundled from the cold that was beginning to melt away. But, that day, it was finally sunny. Not completely warm yet, but the promise was there. The old man had on a knitted cap and gloves and they all seemed in good condition, as did he.
And, as Allister passed him, he leaned his torso over and into a garbage can. He came back up with a newspaper and a quarter of a sandwich emerging from its tin foil like a pearl escaping from an oyster shell. The old man shuffle-walked two feet and handed the quarter sandwich to a waiting friend, another senior citizen who looked much like Allister's or my or your or someone we know's grandfather.
And Allister would never have pegged them as homeless. He was not sure, even when telling me the story, if they actually were. They seemed just like two grandfathers canoodling. They were clean and smiling and hanging out in the sunshine with all the passersby. It was odd. But, so sweet, too.
The first grandfather kept the paper to read while his friend enjoyed the pearl sandwich.
And, as Allister walked past, he had this thought, "That's what I want to be when I grow up."
And, as Allister passed him, he leaned his torso over and into a garbage can. He came back up with a newspaper and a quarter of a sandwich emerging from its tin foil like a pearl escaping from an oyster shell. The old man shuffle-walked two feet and handed the quarter sandwich to a waiting friend, another senior citizen who looked much like Allister's or my or your or someone we know's grandfather.
And Allister would never have pegged them as homeless. He was not sure, even when telling me the story, if they actually were. They seemed just like two grandfathers canoodling. They were clean and smiling and hanging out in the sunshine with all the passersby. It was odd. But, so sweet, too.
The first grandfather kept the paper to read while his friend enjoyed the pearl sandwich.
And, as Allister walked past, he had this thought, "That's what I want to be when I grow up."
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