A True Story

Like squirrels gathering nuts for the winter, shoppers were scrambling quickly to the store before the blizzard to get the necessities such as milk, bread, and eggs. Unfortunately, I was directly in the middle of the turmoil and confusion. As I stood in the check out lane glancing at the magazines for a second, something caught my eye in front of me.
It was a man wearing a bulky green army jacket which looked as if it had several layers of clothing under it. He was also wearing an old army hat with fur lining and ear flaps which could be snapped over the top of the head or under the chin. The only thing he was purchasing was a 15 pound bag of Purina Dog Chow which he lifted onto the counter with a thud to have the price scanned. There was something vaguely familiar about him or maybe just a feeling that I may cross paths with him in the future. I paid for my few necessities and left.
The snow was really coming down covering the parking lot with a thick white blanket as far as I could see. As a kid I loved the big huge wet snowflakes, I would stick out my tongue to see how many I could catch. I could actually feel them melt in my mouth as they ended their journey.
Since the air was bitterly cold, I quickly climbed in my VW Bus which has no heat but gets around in the snow like an all terrain vehicle. Just as I was leaving the parking lot, I caught sight of a familiar green figure against the bright white snow walking in no particular direction. I pulled up next to him and asked if he needed a ride. He was looking for a phone to call a taxi in order to get to the Family Inn, a motel over on Fort Crook road. I told him I could give him a ride, therefore, he had me follow him to the front of the store where his belongings were.
As I got closer to where he was heading, I saw a dog which looked like a German Shepherd sitting by several sacks, the bag of dog food, and a green army duffel bag. He opened the bus door and handed me the bags one by one the last one being the duffel bag which weighed more than all the other bags combined. His dog, Missy, got in next followed by her owner. After I pat her on the head, her tongue rolled out of her mouth, and she began panting. He introduced himself and mentioned that the motel would only hold his room until 5:00 p.m.
As I was plowing through the now thick heavy snow towards our destination, he talked freely about himself. With a distant look in his eyes, he told me how eighteen months earlier he came to Omaha from Wisconsin. Wanting to save money so he could go back home, he camped out in his rusty old pickup, next a boarded up abandoned bar, and last a dusty grain bin. This morning he decided it was getting way too cold to sleep outside and wanted the warmth and comfort of a motel room. I asked him how he kept from freezing when he slept. He said, "A lot of layers of clothing, my sleeping bag, and Missy here" which he patted on the head then put his arms around her neck and gave her a hug.
As the bus slid to a stop in front of the motel, he looked at his watch and said, "4:50 just in time." Quickly he unloaded his prized possessions that included his dog and the few things he owned. When he was ready to shut the bus door, he stretched out his hand as if to shake mine but instead slipped me a $10 bill and whispered, "Thank you." As I drove slowly out of the parking lot, I waved good bye to him smiling with a sparkle of hope in my eyes. You see I spent every last dime of my money on the food I bought. I had no money for gas, yet somehow this man was my miracle and I'm sure he was thinking the same thing about me. Sometimes people's paths cross for only a few minutes, but the lesson they take with them lasts a lifetime.
April, 1999...by Teena K. Johnson

Home * Poetry * Poetry 2

Bipolar * Aspergers