It was a normal day like any other but today I was to present my story to the school about a homeless person. I walked up to the front of the school, I was ready for this. My English teacher had us write an essay on marginalized people. "I choose to do mine on a homeless person and this is my essay. I'm Susan and my story is about a woman named Crystal and this is her story about being homeless," I said as I spoke into the microphone.
Friday October 13,2012; I just got fired from my job. I have two children at home to take care of but we aren't in the nice place in life right now. Their father left us and had reported me to child services, to top it off I only have $300 to buy food with from this last paycheck. I went home to find that child services were there and same with a police officer. The Lady handed me a paper saying that they were taking my children. "This can't be happening, you can't take my children." "I'm sorry Miss. Brooks but you can't proved the children with proper care." With that the lady walked to the car with my children cry in the backseat and that was the last time I saw them. Two weeks later I got evicted from my place because I couldn't pay the rent. I was kicked out onto the streets.
Sunday November 25, 2014; Two years has passed by and I sit outside a Tim Hortons downtown of Saskatoon begging for some spare change. "Sir do you have spare change?" The man just walks by and into thee coffee shop. People walk in and out and nobody stops to pay attention to me. Later that evening I went behind the coffee to go through their trash to find myself something to eat. I stopped when I heard, "Excuse me but can I help you?" I turned around to see this teenage girl dressed in a Tim Hortons uniform.
"No, I'm just looking for food," I said to the girl. "Well I'm Susan, I can help you get some food." "That would be nice." The girl smiled, "Okay follow me." With that we walked to the bus mall and we stood there, I saw a bus coming down the road it was the #9 Riversdale bus. I looked at Susan, "Come on, I will take care of the bus fare." I got on the bus and as I sat down I watched Susan pay for my bus fare and we rode the bus together. We reached the Farmers Market, Susan pull the cord to the bus driver to stop. We got off the bus once it stopped and walked across to this building from the bus stop. The sign read Salvation Army on it. I looked at the girl, "What are we doing here?" She looked at me with a smile, "Food and Coffee" was all she said before walked into the building.
Susan lead me to this cafeteria, we got in line for food but before we got to the window I asked her, "Don't we need to pay if so I have no money." Susan looked at me with a smile and said "No you don't pay its free to eat here." I smiled and followed her, we got are food and went and sat down at a table. We sat and ate our grill cheese and soup with a doughnut and all I could think of is why is this girl helping me nobody in the two years I have been on the streets has stopped to help me. I'm lucky to get a few dollars to get myself a coffee. Once we were done eating Susan looked up at me and asked "how did you end up of the streets?" I sat there shocked because nobody has ever asked me besides the other homeless people I have met over the years.
We both sat there and I told her how I lost my job and my children both on the same day and not then shortly after got kicked out of my house for not being able to pay the rent. She looked sorry for me and then she surprised me by saying "I'm going to help you get back on you feet and I know a place where you can stay so you no longer on the streets." I just smiled and then I asked her, "Why are you helping me? You barely know me and your just a young student." "Okay then what is your name since that's the one thing I haven't asked you yet? Second I'm helping you because I know family and friends who ended up on the streets and you don't look like a day over 25 so you shouldn't be living out on the streets." I smiled at her and said, "Well my name is Crystal and thank you for wanting to help me"
Later that evening we took a bus to back downtown but we got off on 3rd Ave and 20th street. Susan lead me to this build called the Light House she told me that they could give me a place to stay and that she would help me in the morning. Once Susan left one of the workers lead me to a room with a cot and blankets and said, "You can stay in this room for the night Crystal." Once everyone left me be I just laid on the cot wondering what could happen once I get my life back on track. Would I be able to get my children back? Would I be able to to work and a place for myself? Living as a homeless person was is not fun, everyone walks by you not evening paying attention to you. Most people don't even stopped to help you but now Susan a young teenage is willing to help me.
The next day like Susan said she came by to start get me back on my feet. We took a bus to a local Walmart and she got me some new shoes and clothes. "That looks nice on you, the light color blue with the black flowers print on the dress suits you," Susan said to me. I looked at the mirror smiling at my new outfit. "This looks so pretty on me," I told her. After shopping she took me for lunch which was nice. We sat there talking about how Susan was going to help me. "I thought once you got some new clothes that I could help build you a new resume. I could give it to my boss and she can see in hiring you. Then slowly start to save money to get yourself a new place to live. What do you say Crystal?" I looked at Susan and smiled, "That would be lovely Susan," I told her.
The next day I met Susan at the public library downtown to work on a resume so I can try to get a new job. We sat there for hours building it so it would look really good. The only problem was I had no phone number so people could get a hold of me and I didn't have an address to put down. It wasn't till Susan got the idea to go talk to her mom about having me stay with them. So that same day we headed to Susan house and I met Susan's mom Midnight. We agreed I could stay there till I could get my own place and Midnight told me that I should try to get on welfare as well. Susan finished my resume for me and printed 25 copies off and she took one with her since she had work.
Midnight and I went out to hand the rest of the copies to different places. Midnight helped me to get on welfare as well that same day. Lucky for me that my bank account was still active since like two years ago. But I had to get a new bank card since I had lost my old one. Once back at the house I went to my little room they gave me to use and I laid there thanking god that Susan and Midnight were helping me get back on my feet. Hopefully I'll get to see my children soon. I knew it would be a few days till I hear something back about getting a job.
Wednesday April 1st, 2015, It been 6 months now and I'm final proud to say I'm no longer homeless. I have two jobs; I work days at a daycare and nights at Tim Hortons with Susan. I have my own place which happens to be three houses down from Susan and Midnight. I won't be here today if it wasn't for Susan. The only downside to it is I couldn't get my children back they were adopted by a young couple which I'm happy about because then they have a chance for a happy life.
"That is the end of my story on Crystal. Still to this day I see her, she has a happy life and has found some love in her life. What I have to say is that we shouldn't look down on homeless people what we should do is be able to help them. There is a reason for why they are out on the streets all it takes is one person to help them and you could change their life for them." With that I left the stage and microphone and went to take my seat with my class. This is the end of my story about Crystal.
The End
I wrote this for my English class last year I hope you liked it.
