I just talked to my friend Larry. For the past several weeks, he has been saving nickels and dimes to buy a cheap plane ticket to Memphis. Unless there’s a Christmas miracle, it looks like he won’t make it home.
He tries to earn 36 dollars a day, if he can. That will get him a room in the cheap motel—plus a small daily meal of soup, bread and an apple. A few dollars each day is used to buy a packet of Streetwise papers, which he can sell for a tiny profit. Sometimes he doesn’t get the 36 dollars he needs. Then he sleeps on the el.
With Chicago’s frigid temperatures recently, he’s been making sure to get the room every night. Even if it means standing on the corner until 1:00 am. But without sacrificing the room, he probably won’t be able to save enough for the airline ticket.
He told his family he probably wouldn’t come to Memphis, but he thinks it would be fun to surprise them by arriving on Christmas Eve. His mother would be very happy. His stepfather might be, too. But they don’t get along all the time. Larry is embarrassed to tell them that he doesn’t have a job. They think he’s earning a decent living and can’t fly home this year because he can’t take time off from work.
I asked Larry what he’ll do if he can’t afford the plane ticket. He said he’ll probably spend Christmas on the corner, trying to earn 36 dollars. All of his buddies have their own Christmas plans.
I noticed he was wearing the sneakers and winter hat I gave him in October. “Nice hat”, I said. He chuckled. I gave him 5 dollars today. I wish I could give him 5000, but then I would be homeless too.
Heavy Rotation: A Tribe Called Quest, David Garza