He approaches me. I’m at Church Under the Bridge again, watching the service. The tinny music thunders around the parking lot, seething in my ears. Ken approaches me from the left.
“What’chu here for?” he calls cheerfully over the music.
We talk a little while—er, actually, yell a little while. Then Mike, Street Ministry Director, announces that the church that sponsored the breakfast is providing lunch as well. Volunteers (some little kids!) stream into the area from the next space over, bearing bowls of soup and plates of potatoes, chicken, and greens.
I tell him to go eat—then we can talk more.
***
What’s striking me now is the fact that people living without a home can be so talented. Can still have so many varying interests. It just goes to show that the condition isn’t the person—it just goes to affirm that every person has a unique history with a unique background. Even though the condition is apparent, there are many intrinsic tricks and skills that add up and layer to help make a person.
For Ken, it’s jujitsu, chess, food and cooking, etc. For Ramero, it’s rapping, volunteering, etc. For me, it’s ballet, baking, piano, this. People, no matter their societal status, have their own passions and their vices.
Excited to learn more of them, with new humans.
-Isabella, 2/19/17