The Man Who Can't Be Moved

Day 15

Day 15, May 26th

I have a neighbor now. Yesterday, about 10:00, a man fell asleep at the corner next to mine. In the morning, he came over to talk to me. His name is Archie. He lost his job and then his wife died, and then he couldn’t find employment, so he’s reduced to sleeping on the streets and begging for food. He looks a little shady. I think I’ll have to watch him. He was eyeing my radio while we were talking.

A passerby came up to me today and asked if I was the man waiting for a girl. I asked how she knew who I was. She said that her friend came back from a vacation in this city telling stories about a hobo that wouldn’t take money. She told me that she had flown here from Detroit just to find me. I told her my story and she gave me ten dollars. I tried to refuse (Archie gave me looks while I did this), but she insisted, so I took it. It made her happy, and then she left.

Archie says to never refuse money, ever. I wonder how long he’s lived on the streets.