"Mandy"

I sat with a pencil in my hand and a cigarette smashed on the concrete listening to the slow calming beats of Iron & Wine. I sat watching the people and showed them what I was drawing when they asked. Most of them responded, "Looks good." I love when people ask me if I am an artist.

"Down here you it's easier to by crack than a soda."

I saw a man walking toward me in the distance and I seeing his mouth move, I removed my headphones and said, "Please?"
"You making artwork?" he asked.
"Yea I am." I motioned to the building drawn in two point perspective on my paper. We talked a little about my drawing and, he told me his name and how he was staying at the drop-in center. He told me a little of his past as a basketball player at a college in Kentucky and how he was from the south side of Chicago. He told me graduated with a degree in accounting and lost everything when he started drinking and drugging after the death of his father and son. He told me so much. I was interested in everything this man was saying. When he left he told me, "Make the dean's list Mandy."


I keep thinking about the conversation I had with that man. I used to think that if you go to college you can't end up on the street. False. He was such a nice man: he didn't ask me for money or a ride or a cigarette. He just wanted someone to talk to. He didn't ask for my pity. He just told me. He was so passionate in the way he talked. I think he would make a great teacher. It's funny how a conversation with a stranger can mean more to me than talking one with a friend. I want to talk to more strangers. I think I learn more from them. I wonder why that is.