So I went to a McDonalds after school today and noticed someone inside...

She was older, maybe 45, but the wrinkles and bags under her eyes made her look 80. She was standing there, next to a small metal cart that held a black garbage bag which was designated to her clothing. Just another Homeless person in Western washington.

But...something was different. She didn't follow the normal stereotype of a bum; dirty, stained clothes with smudges on their face, long hair and a big heavy beard (for the males). Instead she stood with a straight posture on her skinney body, adorned with spectacularly clean clothes, however, they were ripped and matted at the ends. Almost as if owned by someone who took great care to keep them clean, to make them last for many many years. On her head was a flowered bandanna, which reminded me of a farmwife of sorts.

Despite her upheld posture she walked with a small limp and took her food:

1 mcdouble
1 medium fry.

I swiftly grabbed my own food soon after and sat down across the resturaunt and ate.

I couldn't help but to glance up at her as I bit into my hamburger and notice that she was scarfing down her fries , one at a time but in a hurried pace....almost like a holocaust survivor, someone who knew food as a scarce gift.

Once she finished she stared at the table for a moment with a look on her face like she wanted more, then began to rifle through her garbage bag.

I finished my own meal soon after and stood, throwing away my trash and collecting myself to head back to my car. Something inside told me to leave a dollar on the table where she was as soon as she moved away for a moment, but my brain worried that she'd take offense.( Even with so many people begging on the streets) This woman seemed different, more respectable.

I moved towards her table and reached into my back pocket, not finding the dollar I had in there earlier, and before I could locate it she returned. I stopped and started to walk away, cursing myself lightly.

Before I could, she stopped me and said:

"Sir...You're glasses! You left them on the window seal"

Sure enough there they were. I exchanged a thank you very much and scooped them up. I said thanks once more and on my way out I heard in her frail voice. "Have a great day sir" I stopped dead in my tracks, looked at another woman who peered at me, frowned and then left.


I do not know your name, your motives, or your creed.
I do not know your story, or which way you will proceed.
But I hope your journey through this life, goes better from here.
and the road up ahead, is a bright and happy one.