A short Holiday tale from 2014

 

November 27, 2014

A tale about a Pauper and an Angel

It was 32 degrees outside tonight as I headed home from work, and I needed to run by the dollar store to pick up some calendars for work I got sidetracked and bought Christmas goodies to make and craft gifts for our department's employees - 45 people!  Found some little holiday buckets to fill with candy and had a jolly time shopping, but it was getting late. It was 8pm and I needed to run to Albertsons to pick up my Thanksgiving dinner before the deli closed.  I used to cook Thanksgiving dinner all from scratch, but full-time work and 15 fur babies keeps my life busy.  Besides a $50 bill can buy a fully cooked 12 lb turkey with mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing.... rather good, eh?  Anyway, while at Albertsons I like to visit with my friends who work there including, sweet Joyce whom I met when she worked at the Salvation Army store before she started at Albertsons.  I have known Joyce for probably 12 years now.  Such a sweet and wonderful lady - so caring.  She works at the food bank every Friday at her church and if that gives you a little insight about her, there is nothing she wouldn't do for anyone.  She is a pretty little white haired, blue eyed lady in her 70s. She lost her husband last year, but fortunately she has 5 grown children and many friends, so she was not left in this world alone.  Ten years ago, while working at the Salvation Army store she gave me a beautiful antique red velvet chair that I cherish and it is in my bedroom. 

So why, you ask, so much about information about Joyce?  Well I think she is an angel, that is, humor me please if even you don't believe in angels, because maybe after this story you will or maybe you will believe in some sort of an angel.  In this instance, I like to believe angels take on a human form – bear in mind, I believe in Santa Claus too, at some level; however, I especially like the angel in “It’s a wonderful life”. Poor Clarence really had to work hard to get his wings by helping George.   Anyway, since Joyce’s recent loss of her husband there is some sense in me that believes I must take on a personal responsibility to make her smile – probably because she is such a kind person.  Her first valentine’s day without him, I bought her roses and during other holidays I like to give her and my other friends at Albertsons little gifts, after all, they are my friends and I see them often.  Tonight, Thanksgiving eve, if you will...I realized I didn't have anything for Joyce or Nikki - Julie was off work. 

I noticed while visiting with Joyce that she was wearing one dangly earring...it was a turkey.  I told her, "Oh, you've lost an earring" to which she replied,” I lost the other some time ago (other than today), so I decided to wear just the one today."  Now, I don't believe she thinks she is a pirate, but I do believe she liked the earrings and was determined to wear only the one if that was all she had.  So, I decided I must run to Walgreens across the street to see if they had any “Turkey Earrings”, but I had to be quick as I believed Joyce was off her shift in 15 minutes.  This is where the “Joyce angel” part of the story thickens. 

As I pulled into Walgreen’s parking lot, I noticed a young woman standing in the lot...looking around - she was in a lightweight wool coat with a cotton bandanna tucked around her mouth in lieu of a proper cold weather scarf - neither were really warm enough, but she did have on a hat and gloves.  Anyway, I had 15 minutes and not a minute longer to accomplish my gift mission, so believing she was probably waiting for someone and not taking the time to inquire about what she was doing, I hurried into the store to look for my friend's precious turkey earring replacements.  No earrings...I looked around and knew I needed to make my move fast....two chocolate ornaments...you know the kind, they are about 4" in diameter, different flavors. I bought 2 for $5, one orange and one caramel butter, they would have to do for Joyce and Nikki this eve.    As I headed back to the car, I saw the young woman had moved from the parking lot to sidewalk in front of the store.

 At this point I decided if I didn’t get back to Albertsons before Joyce left, it was fate as I had to inquire about what this woman was doing – one of those gut things.  From about 12 feet away I asked her, "Are you waiting for someone?" I couldn't hear her response so I moved closer and asked again.  I still couldn't hear her so I moved in closer yet so much that we were in each other’s personal space, but I could then carry on a conversation.  I was cold, I knew she was colder - I told her that is was very cold out –small talk so as to push forward with the conversation and asked again if she was waiting for someone or if she needed help? Her first response was that she didn't mean to cause anyone any trouble, and she appeared slightly nervous.  Finally, after some struggled conversation, I learned that she was living in a motel close to downtown (I live north of the Denver about 20 miles) and she was making beads to earn her keep, but hadn't been able to make her quota and the woman from whom she receives her room and board told her she could no longer continue to stay there unless she paid her money - $42 a night, and that is what this young woman, whose name I found out is Robin, needed.  She had left the motel and had been walking.  She had been told to produce money or get out of her room.  She said she had gotten a job just down the street from the Walgreens a week and a half ago, and would be getting a check in two days, but for whatever reason (and you know there is more to the story) she had to give this woman some money tonight or get out.  Standing out in the freezing weather, she reminded me of the poor little girl who was trying to sell her matches and sadly, we know the ending to that story too well. I inquired, "how do you plan on getting the money?  What exactly are you doing? (knowing she was panhandling, but needed to hear her explanation).  Now, this is when you realize she is either a really good liar or really in trouble - she spoke in a childlike voice without condemnation of her subject, "I saw a dirty old man out here asking for money and he got what he needed, so I thought I would try that but I haven't been able to ask anyone yet”. She could not worked up the nerve to beg. As I stated before, Robin was either a con in apprenticeship, or she was in big trouble, and I chose to believe the latter.  I asked her if she had been drinking - to see if she was panhandling for alcohol money.  She said no, she wasn't even old enough to drink, she was only 20.  I asked her a great number of questions - was she from here, where are her parents, doesn't she have friends here?  She answered all without hesitation.  She said that she is from here and her mother lives in an assisted living home. She didn't keep up with her friends from high school and she doesn’t really know her father.  So before I could make her feel any worse, as I could see the tears where on the way, I told her, "Robin, it is ok, we have all been down on our luck at some point in our lives."  I told her – (still trying to decide if she was truthful or not) - that I could give her $20 maybe and she then could try to get the rest.  She said oh no, she would rather borrow the money and pay it back. At that point I told her let's go into the store, it is too cold out here.  As we moved into Walgreens, I told her that she had no business out on the side walk alone; that if someone found out she was out in the dark all alone, they might try to grab her.  I told her, I would give her the $42 dollars, but she needed to go back to her motel.  Of course during our conversation I offered to take her back there, but she said she rode the bus and couldn't explain to me how to get there. We entertained that discussion twice as I had some suspension that she was hiding something, but in the end I decided she really didn’t know her way around – or perhaps, she didn’t want me to know where she lived.

Now, I know you, gentle reader, are moaning, Linda, you've been conned.  Well, maybe, maybe not.  Sometimes, when it is clear that a panhandler is just that, especially if they are looking for alcohol money, I can usually tell and won't give them anything. Otherwise, I have bought meals for and given food to people on the street who look like vagrants, bought food for people panhandling who say they need it for their family, and tonight, I wished with all my heart that I could have brought home a young 20 year old woman. I wished I could provide her with not only shelter, food and creature comforts, but also motherly love and worldly direction, but situations don’t work that way do they?  So, I did what I could to help her.  I told her, “I believe you so I will help you, but know that if you are lying karma will provide you with punishment.” In retrospect, I actual feel bad for saying that because I believe she was telling me the truth and good grief man, it was only $42.  Only $42, but she looked at the cash I put in her hand in disbelief and really appeared to be speechless - her expressions were not cunning, but sincere.  I then asked her when she had eaten last and she said this morning.  I gave her $5 more dollars and took her Burger King, dropped her off and drove away wishing that I could bring her home like I have with all my little homeless cats and dogs - that is my heart talking, my mind knows, I can't bring home homeless humans because it is much riskier business.  I may or may not go by the store that she said she is working at - maybe on Friday.  If she is there, or if they tell me a Robin works there I will be delighted, if not, well, I won't stop helping people who tell me they need help.  Whether they are lying or not, if I can't tell - I can do only one thing if it is a gut feeling and that is help.  The rest is out of my hands.  Robin, to be young and scared is an awful thing, I know, and if this was a good thing tonight, and like I told you "pay it forward", then I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I know at your tender age, alone, you will not be with family and friends enjoying the celebration of the upcoming holidays, but you will be growing in understanding the world and what your role in the world will be.  Maybe you will relish in the fact that you found out and understand that not all people are bad, that a lot of people are willing to help. Sweet dreams young woman, take heart, and have a good life.

To complete my evening, I got back to Albertsons to find Joyce still there, which was a joyful ending to a sad yet happy evening knowing I may have helped someone, but left wanting to have done more. I gave Joyce the chocolate I bought for her and Nikki hers too, and I realized that Joyce’s role in this story must be the one of the little angel – of course I’ve known that in my heart all along, but let me invite you to think about it, if you enjoy lovely little stories. If she hadn't worn one earring, which spawned me to go buy her a pair, I wouldn't have gone to Walgreens and I wouldn't have helped Robin. So you see, I believe that Joyce got an advance on those wings of hers for when she needs them – did you hear a bell? If you don’t understand why I am asking about a bell, you need to watch “It is a Wonderful Life.”  Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas my gentle friends – we’ve yet to experience the Yule Tide Celebration and New Year - more to look forward to.