He wasn't sitting on the steps when I went into the building. But there he sat in the sun when I came out. He greeted me like a long lost friend, like he had been just there waiting for me. I gave him a big smile and asked how he was doing. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it, and said "Wonderful" His eyes twinkled as I found out more how he was progressing. He had to tell me of his fishing tales and getting his motorcycle out of storage and riding around letting the wind blow through his hair. (He knew I would chuckle at that image. Black men do not have hair the wind can blow through)
Than he got very serious but kept the twinkle in his eyes or was that tears? He thanked me over and over for believing in him. For trusting his word. He couldn't have made living where he had been.
See, Larry was a homeless man living under the bridge. He had been in the men's shelter for the maximum amount of time allowed.
He was battling with cancer.
Someone met him at a the food bank and called me to see if I had any apts. He fit nicely into an efficiency I had in the big blue house. That was two years ago.
Larry continues to work through his treatments.
Always smiling, never complaining.
And he has the warmest smile.
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