by

Jasmine Coleman

 

I went to my red preis (which was in front of my apartment in the city) to get it started, when a guy came up to me. He seemed like he was homeless. What practically gave it away was how he was dressed and he also was holding out a worn out grey ratty hat with one hand then with the other hand holding a sign up. (When I say sign I mean a peace of cardboard with fade black lettering.) The sign said: HOMELISS NEED FOOD CLOSE MONEY in big what used to be bold lettering.

            “Money?” he would ask one person then another as he would walk up to me. He must have talked to at least twenty people in five minutes.

            The guy had a little limp. He finally got to me. Then he said to me in raspy voice “surly you can spare me something, anything.”

            I then gave him a twenty dollar- bill while saying “just please spend it on food or clothes.”

            “OOO” was his reaction then he broke into a little sad but happy jig, then yelling out “thank yous sir, thank yous!” While he and his voice disappeared behind the corner. I kind of heard him chuckle and say something, though I didn’t catch what he said. I just got into my car, checked the time then drove off.

It went on like this for the past few weeks. I finally decided I could be friends with the homeless guy.

            The next time I saw the guy I asked him “do you want to go to McDonalds?”

            “What’s that?”

             “What’s what?”

            “McDonalds, what is it?”

            “You don’t know McDonalds?”

            “No.”

            “Well here. Follow me up to my apartment so we can get you freshened up.”

So we went up one flight of stairs. When we got to the apartment he asked me “what does that say?” pointing to my apartment number.

Oh you gotta be kidding me, this guy can fairly write a sign with right lettering but at least he made a sign and now you’re telling me he doesn’t know his numbers, I thought to myself. “That is my apartment number and the number is nine” I said. “Now come on inside.”

So we went inside. Then I showed him around so he could get familiar with things and get comfortable. Then I gave him his own things to use then I left him alone in the bathroom so he can clean up. After he came out of the bathroom I gave him his own pair of shoes, they were a bet big but I promised him I’ll take him shopping for things he needed.

We were then on our way to Wal-Mart to by him shoes. When we got there we went strait to the men’s shoes section. He then picked out thirty dollar black nikey shoes. We then were on our way to McDonalds.

Then when we got to McDonalds for whatever reason he ordered a kids meal. I ordered a big mac. When I turned around I saw that he was gone then I looked closer and saw he was stuck in the big kids’ toy. Then I heard a woman yell “Tommy get down from there there’s a hobo up there, and for the rest of you why haven’t you called police yet!?” Everybody scattered around.

“Mommy I can’t come down, someone is in my way!” the boy called back he sounded like he was crying.

The firefighters came to the fast- food restraint and evacuated everybody who wasn’t stuck in the big toy. After all the commotion the guy was freaked out but he was able to stay calm. We finally sat down and got to talking and the last couple of words were “so what’s you’re name? My name is Bruno Jay a.k.a Blue Moon. I’m a jazz musician as matter of fact I’m going to be performing at a wedding reception tomorrow.”

            “A um a um” he stuttered then he said “Bob”

            “What?”

            “Bob, my name is Bob Barkley”

            “Isn’t Bob Barkley a T.V. host’s name?”

            “I don’t know.”

 “Hey let’s go back to my apartment and rest” I suggested.

            “Um o.k. I guess we can do that” Bob agreed.

“Are you feeling o.k.?”

“Huh, oh ya I’m feeling o.k. just a bet full. Haven’t eaten that much in a long time.”

 So we got to the apartment then went to sleep. When I woke up Bob wasn’t anywhere to be found. I started my day with a nice cup of hot coffee then picked out the appropriate clothes for the reception. Then I did my morning bathroom things. I brushed my teeth in the shower as usual. I kind of was in a rush. I had to find Bob and make sure he’s o.k. then get to the wedding reception. I drove all over town looking for Bob but didn’t find him I would just have to leave him be. I just went to the wedding reception.

            I got things set up so I could sing with out forgetting anything strait down to the song and beat. I was singing Santana’s Everything’s Coming Our Way.

 I was about to sing tell I recognized the bride to bee’s father was Bob so I made a plan to figure out if he really was Bob. I started singing again and this time I got the bride to bee’s father to sing along his voice did sound a bet familiar. When I was done singing I got down from the stage and went towards Bob. Bob noticed me coming but it was too late for him to runaway so he stayed there and said “thank you for you’re wonderful performance I loved it and I’m absolutely positive that my daughter loved it to.”

“Yes well, you know what they say an honest musician is a good musician.”

“What, oh yes an honest musician is a good musician right.”

“So what is you’re name? Mine is Bruno Jay a.k.a Blue Moon.”

            “My name is Jerry, Jerry Lewis.”

“Isn’t Jerry Lewis a famous singer?”

 “Well yes I do believe so.”

“So Jerry have you made any new friends lately?”                                                        “No, why?”

            “Well maybe because you just totally look like a homeless guy that I met off the street and took in yesterday.”

“Well I never.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”
            “I’m sorry because, well I am the homeless man I was acting like a bum so I wouldn’t haft to use my own money on the reception or the real wedding that way I would still be as rich plus I money I bummed.”

“Oh daddy was that true!?”

“Yes. Oh I’m so ashamed”

“And that kids is why you never lone money to people unless you know the person very well.”