Homeless in Baton Rouge

After hearing a little story from my daughter about someone she met today, I was inspired to write the following. I'm pretty sure that I've given it the wrong title but it was all I could come up with at this hour. I hope you enjoy the story and please feel free to comment or pass along some constructive criticism. Thanks.

Homeless in Baton Rouge

'Twas a bitter cold night as 55 year old Arnie shivered beneath the bridge. The lights of the casino in the distance beckoned to him. He wrapped his ratty sleeping bag closer around him in an attempt to retain what warmth it provided. As he tossed and turned trying to get comfortable on his cold, hard concrete bed, he thought about his wife and memories of good times past came flooding back.

She was a lovely, God-fearing woman of high morals and standards. They loved each other with a love that most never experience. He remembered when they sat in the room together the day the doctor came in with the results of all the tests they had run on her the week before.

"You have cancer of the stomach that has mestasized and has spread into the esophagus. We think it has spread to your lymph glands as well." The doctor kept talking and giving more details but Arnie didn't hear it. He looked at his wife when she asked, "How long?"

"Not long, probably less than six months", the doctor replied.

Arnie remembered how graceful and fearless she was as she accepted this news. He remembered how her sky blue eyes did not even well up with tears. It was her time and she accepted it.

A bitter breeze shook him back to his place underneath the bridge. Again, the casino lights danced on the water, calling to him. He got up, folded up his sleeping bag, and tucked it up under the beams with the few belongings he called his own. Then he turned and made his way down the levee to the casino where he knew there would be warmth and maybe a bite or two of something to eat.

As he boarded the boat and made his way to the restroom, he noticed there were cash tickets here and there on the floor. He knew that each ticket was worth only pennies, but if he gathered up enough of them, perhaps he'd be able to buy a small meal.

After washing up in the restroom, he returned to the floor and asked a beverage server for a drink. She told him that she could only serve him if he's playing the slots or another game. He walked around some more and gathered up some of the vouchers he had seen and then sat at a machine, inserting a voucher one at a time. The beverage server asked him what he would like to drink and Arnie said to her, "Please bring me a glass with a little bit of cola and a lot of cherries and olives."

Then he pulled the lever on the side of the machine and waited. To his astonishment, he won $50! He turned to the waitress and grinned a toothless grin. She smiled back and told him she'd return in just a moment with his drink. He inserted another token and slowly played the slot machine until she returned. He didn't want to use up all of his tokens here at the casino when he knew he could cash them in and get a meal somewhere later on.

The waitress returned with his glass of olives, cherries, and a little bit of cola. He thanked her and as she walked away, he got up from his chair and made his way to the upper deck of the boat. He climbed the stairs, one burgandy floral step at a time, already feeling the warmth in the air.

Reaching the top of the stairs, he looked around for a somewhat secluded empty seat. Something discreet and out of the way. He found what he was looking for in the farthest corner and he was grateful to see that it was placed directly under a heating vent.

Sitting down, he bit into a cherry and chewing slowly he thought about his wife, her parents, and his parents. They're all gone now. With dismay, he realizes once again that he is all alone. He dwells on these thoughts for awhile, eating his olives and cherries, basking in the warmth coming from the heater.

Things weren't always this bad. He had a good job before. Before his wife got sick. Before his parents were killed in that car crash. Before her parents passed away only weeks apart. Before the big lay off at the plant. He regrets that he and his wife never had children. He always wanted a child but things kept getting in the way and preventing that enjoyable part of life. Now, it's just him and the few belongings he has stashed under the bridge.

He was tired and he must have dozed for he woke with a start, not knowing where he was, and he was momentarily confused. Then he saw the girl, the beverage server who had given him the cherries and olives. She was looking at him compassionately and began walking toward him.

"Hey", she said, "would you like another drink?"

"No thanks", he replied, and as an afterthought he asked her, "Would you know where I might be able to find a job?"

She looked at him for a second, as if trying to picture him in a certain occupation. Then she remembered the "Hire a Helper" place located within walking distance of the casino. She told him about it and said they might be able to help him. At first, he believed her, then he remembered that he had no permanent address or phone number that most employers require.

Feeling the need to do something, he got up, thanked her again for the glass of cherries and olives and walked off the boat. He decided that it couldn't hurt to talk to someone at Hire a Helper so he began walking in that direction. Thirty minutes later he was practically skipping back to the boat to share his good news with the girl. After all, she was the one who told him about Hire a Helper.

He found her quickly and said, "They said they'll work with me. Thanks for telling me about them." She was excited for him and said, "That's great! I know you'll do fine!"

He exited the boat again and walked back to his spot under the bridge. Wrapping himself up in the sleeping bag, he laid down out of the wind and began to happily doze off with the hope that tomorrow he may have a little job. Who knows? After tomorrow, anything could happen.