Today’s Friday, and so far it’s been lousy. I ride my bike from one dumpster location to the next, rummage through the bins in search of something saleable or reusable. Slim pickings today. No scrap metal to sell to Bruno, no electronic gadgets that look like they could be fixed, no clothes I could resell. It’s past noon – time to have something to eat. I’m terribly hungry. No need to pull out my wallet – all it contains is some copper coins, and those won’t buy a thing.
Not much is happening, people are at home cooking or eating. I’ve been sitting on the wall across from the dumpsters on Via Sapori – away from the ones that stink the most – for half an hour. But wait – here comes someone. It’s the guy that’s given me something occasionally. Let’s try!
Hooray, I’m getting there – he gave me some brass! Now all I need is another generous sponsor like him. If all else fails, I can walk over to aunty Tsura, who’s sitting on her usual lunchtime bench, and ask her for some crumbs. She usually has enough and doesn’t mind sharing.
– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2026)
Note
This is a fundamentally true story told from the point of view of another person and was written down for Friday Writings #247: Reframing Negative Concepts.
A sad situation written so well - Jae
ReplyDeleteThis little hooray moment of joy in a grim life, you conveyed it well.
ReplyDeleteA sad but powerful story with a glimpse of hope. Well written!
ReplyDeleteA reminder for gratitude - our world is so much better than some and we still whining.
ReplyDeleteThis exemplifies 'making the best of it' rather than sinking into permanent despair. And, as Jae Rose says, so well written.
ReplyDeletePerfect anecdote for one man's trash is another man's gold!
ReplyDeleteIn Sydney, I helped start up a new restaurant and the first few weeks were difficult to gauge our purchases and so we ended up with lots of food that we had to get rid of. I filled two garbage bags full of smoked salmon, sundried tomatoes, what was left of the morning's bread, cream cheese etc... and delivered it directly to where the homeless were camped out in George Street. Those folks feasted well that night!
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten about this until reading your poem Leonard. Thanks for the reminder đ Nice write đ
Wow! This is so well written, I felt like I was there.
ReplyDelete