November was always the hardest. The short days and dank weather drove the chill deep into my bones. Hard liquor would heat my belly for a while, but it wasn't safe to drink too much. In spite of my circumstances, I didn't want to die.
I could play the guitar and sing quite well so I was able to busk and earn some money that way. Most people would have put their open guitar case on the ground to collect the money, but I always put down a baseball cap. It was my reminder of better days.
I never met anyone on the streets who expected to end up homeless. I certainly didn't. I was a construction worker and made good money. My apartment was comfortable and I'd bought myself a really nice truck. In the summer, I'd go camping with my buddies, and fish in the lakes up north. There were girlfriends but I never got around to getting married. Just as well since I got hooked on opioids after my workplace accident. It was shocking how quickly my life collapsed. I Iived outside for three years.
One night the shelter food truck came to my area. I gladly accepted the invitation to sit in the truck while I ate some hot stew. It was November again, and I didn't know if I could survive another winter. Jake, a worker from the shelter, was unusually quiet that evening. He kept looking at me in a troubled way. Maybe he sensed that I was fading fast.
"Ryan," he said, "you've got to come back to the shelter with me. I know you don't like to sleep there but please, for me, come tonight."
I hesitated but, honestly, I didn't have the energy to refuse so I went with him. He found me a bed near the door so that I could feel like I had a way to escape if I needed to.
That night I dreamt about you, my football coach, who always said I would succeed if I tried. Your determined optimism, work ethic, and the way you helped us all to play our best game filled my sleep. My mind replayed you giving me your baseball cap that I always cherished because you had cared, really cared.
The next morning, it seemed as though you were beside me, and when Jake asked if I would like to join a group to learn about getting off the streets. I agreed. I put my baseball cap on and promised myself that I would try with every ounce of my being to be the man that you knew I could be. It wasn't easy but I stuck with the program and got clean.
Tomorrow, I am starting a new job. I retrained as a customer service agent, and now I have a future because you always believed in me.
I could play the guitar and sing quite well so I was able to busk and earn some money that way. Most people would have put their open guitar case on the ground to collect the money, but I always put down a baseball cap. It was my reminder of better days.
I never met anyone on the streets who expected to end up homeless. I certainly didn't. I was a construction worker and made good money. My apartment was comfortable and I'd bought myself a really nice truck. In the summer, I'd go camping with my buddies, and fish in the lakes up north. There were girlfriends but I never got around to getting married. Just as well since I got hooked on opioids after my workplace accident. It was shocking how quickly my life collapsed. I Iived outside for three years.
One night the shelter food truck came to my area. I gladly accepted the invitation to sit in the truck while I ate some hot stew. It was November again, and I didn't know if I could survive another winter. Jake, a worker from the shelter, was unusually quiet that evening. He kept looking at me in a troubled way. Maybe he sensed that I was fading fast.
"Ryan," he said, "you've got to come back to the shelter with me. I know you don't like to sleep there but please, for me, come tonight."
I hesitated but, honestly, I didn't have the energy to refuse so I went with him. He found me a bed near the door so that I could feel like I had a way to escape if I needed to.
That night I dreamt about you, my football coach, who always said I would succeed if I tried. Your determined optimism, work ethic, and the way you helped us all to play our best game filled my sleep. My mind replayed you giving me your baseball cap that I always cherished because you had cared, really cared.
The next morning, it seemed as though you were beside me, and when Jake asked if I would like to join a group to learn about getting off the streets. I agreed. I put my baseball cap on and promised myself that I would try with every ounce of my being to be the man that you knew I could be. It wasn't easy but I stuck with the program and got clean.
Tomorrow, I am starting a new job. I retrained as a customer service agent, and now I have a future because you always believed in me.
