"-and then she just came at me. Woosh. Like no one else was there!"
"Sure she did." The other boy kicked my box. "You don't even remember I was there, right?"
The other boy stopped, took my box, then returned it with some extra change. "Sorry, sir." the boy placated. "My friend's new. He doesn't know you." He bowed, walking backwards. "Sorry."
"Why'd you do that for? He's just a beggar."
"Nah man. That ain't no beggar." The boy's eyes were sad over his shoulder. "Come on, I'll tell you."
I, of course, did not care whether they had destroyed my box and took everything in it. I had my stash ready for the night since this morning. Not proud of it, but a delivery man was extra slow coming out of the liquor store. I thought him a valuable lesson, I did. Something I wish someone had taught me.
"Mama, my balloon!" A little girl was running towards me. I looked down so she did not see my face. "Mister! Catch it! Please!"
Unable to refuse a child, I looked up just in time to grab the fleeing balloon. I held it until her little legs let her reach me - head down, of course. She took it then kissed my cheek.
"Thanks mister K!" She scampered off to her mother. "Mama, mister K saved my balloon!"
"He sure did." The mother gave me a nod as she dropped some change in my box. "Mister K always looks out for us."
I stared at my small pile and couldn't help but feel excited... I had enough for two bottle tomorrow... a better haul than most weekends. Wonder why today's so special? Well, whatever. The day was hot and my body felt hotter still. Tomorrow worries for tomorrow. I baked in the sun, my blood boiling and my thoughts fleeing.
"- and then that cow slapped me, can you believe it? You know what I did, right? I stood up, took off my purse -"
"Mr. K! how are you?" I saw four sandaled feet, looked up to see a former costumer. "Oh Mr K. You look terrible..." I couldn't bear to see her pity. Failures didn't deserve pity. I heard clinking sounds all the same.
"Eww, Debra. Why are you giving this hobo your money?"
"That's no hobo Katie." She patted my head, like I used to hers. "Whatever he looks like, he is always gonna be Mr. K."
"Tsk. Are you like high?"
They moved off. What was her name again? His thoughts were so sluggish nowadays. It wasn't always like this. Why, at one point he -
Debra. My little Debs. The name just came to me.
And with it - the memories. So many memories that I curled up and wept. When I finally looked up, it was night, and I was broken...
I looked at the pile of coins before me, it seemed bigger... Well, i was broken, and there was only one remedy for a broken man...
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