Encounter

Short, short story - A boy encounters a homeless man.

It was cold this morning, unseasonably cold. He drank from the aging water bottle and tasted the sandwich he'd found yesterday at the park. The uncollected trash that shared his alley smelled ripe.

"I saw you yesterday." The juvenile voice surprised him, even made him jump a little.

"Come again?" He said, squinting upward to get a look at the boy.

"You were on the street. Mommy and I went to grocery and you were there, asking for money."

He remembered sitting outside Andre's Grocery but was that yesterday? Seemed more like a week ago. It was hard to tell. "Sorry little man, but I don't remember you. Where's your momma now? You ain't s'posed to be in this alley with me."

"I know. Mom was paying the waiter 'cause we had breakfast. She told me to stay put. I'll probably get in trouble." The boy paused. "I want to be like you when I grow up."

"What?" the man chuckled as he looked around at the grimy concrete, the trash bins, the neglected fire escapes. Remember us, they seemed to say. Pay us just a little attention. "You're crazy. Why'd you want to be like me?"

"You had lots of money in your can. You just sit there and people give you money. That's cool."

"Sam!" The woman screamed as she ran towards them. A cop followed. The alley suddenly felt more like a trap than a home.

"What were you doing with my son?!"

"He wasn't doing anything, Mom. I saw him yesterday and came to say hi."

"Sam, I told you to stay put. You scared me to death!"

The cop shook his head. "Move along, Mr.," he said. "This ain't a bed and breakfast." Slowly, the man hobbled to his feet and gathered up his things.


300 Words