change #8

Leave, you can’t be in here! A homeless man with his head down wearing a vomit green trench coat was being shoved out of the restaurant. I don’t know what came over me, I walked up to the homeless man and asked him what was wrong. He slowly turned his head as if to conserve what little energy he has left. His face was long and very boney you could see shadows all along his eyes and cheekbones. He hasn’t eaten in days I thought to myself .He replies with a soft raspy voice, “they don’t want to sell me food.” At that point I don’t know what came over me I was in raged. I told him that it was ok that I would buy him some food. His facial expression was neutral no movement.

I asked him to come with me inside the restaurant once again. Just then right before I could finish his eyes opened wide. I could see the fear he had in his eyes. He was afraid to enter; I grab his arm firmly to let him know that he was not alone. He finally decided to walk into the restaurant. As the door swung open the bell rang. Silence!  Heads turned all eyes were on us. I looked around I could see people reactions change, faces morphed in to ugly monstrous stares. We finally get to the cashier I ask the homeless man to order his food and once again with a soft raspy voice he orders a burrito. The casher looks at him in disgust. She says she won’t serve him. He shrugged down and puts his head down lower than before. I step up and ask the casher a rhetorical question I asked her why won’t you sell him food. I tell her in that case I would like to order a burrito.

She immediately turned and stared me down her eyes like everyone else’s in the restaurant were sending me messages they we angry and disgraced with me. I shut them out only focusing on the cashier at that exact moment I see the manager running towards us. He’s yelling Get out! Get out! I argue to the manager he is with me his reaction was very familiar. He just stood there observing us. I turned and looked at the homeless man to start a conversation to lighten up the tension in the room. I asked him what his name was he said his name was James. He asked me what my name was I told him I’m Victor. The food was finally done the cashier hands me the bag. I did not reach out to grab the bag containing the burrito. I waited to see her offer the bag to James. Seconds passed and I guess she got the hint. I was proud to see James get his bag. We walk out of the restaurant and I offer him a ride. He repeatedly blessed me and refused the ride. He walked away down the street vanishing amongst the shadow.

            Months pass I’m standing in line to order food at subway. I see this man in front of me , he looks very familiar as if I’ve seen him before. He turned around looked and hugged me. He caught me off guard I couldn’t believe that he remembered me. He said with a loud deep voice victor how are you doing? It was James he looked like he was doing well. He had on a black blazer a bright white dress shirt. I also notice he had a Rolex on his left wrist. His face was round and pudgy. I was awed by his new wardrobe we talked he even bought me food.