Jonathan
There’s this guy, Jonathan, who lives in a group home down the street from us; I met him last year outside the video store one night when I was stoned and got into conversation with him, the result being giving him ten bucks in response to a sob story he related about his life and the way he’s treated in the place he lives.
A few weeks later, walking by, he saw me on the front porch of my house and now, from time to time, he stops by and panhandles me in the name of some difficulty or another he is facing.
I don’t know quite what to make of the guy; he seems “not quite right;” but at the same time, he apparently remembers a lot of details—my name, Jen’s name, that I’m a teacher—and he has a way of speaking that’s strangely engaging.
He’s very skinny and seems harmless enough, but I wouldn’t be telling the whole story if I didn’t admit that I’m a tiny bit scared of him—not on my account, really, but more for Jen and Mimi. A few times he’s come by, especially at night, I’ve shooed him away rather abruptly; I’m not crazy about his showing up after dark, even though I’m not sure why.
Today his gambit was that tomorrow is his 50th birthday. I have no reason to doubt this and if it’s true, boy, I sure am looking a lot better at this age than he is. Jonathan has lost close to all his teeth, he’s bald, and if he is what 50 looks like, then I am still a teenager.
Naturally, I couldn’t resist today’s appeal: a financial contribution on the occasion of his half-century anniversary? My initial reaction when he hit me up was to decline, but when he told me tomorrow is his birthday, my wallet came out.
Now, I even wish I had doubled the amount I have him.
A few weeks later, walking by, he saw me on the front porch of my house and now, from time to time, he stops by and panhandles me in the name of some difficulty or another he is facing.
I don’t know quite what to make of the guy; he seems “not quite right;” but at the same time, he apparently remembers a lot of details—my name, Jen’s name, that I’m a teacher—and he has a way of speaking that’s strangely engaging.
He’s very skinny and seems harmless enough, but I wouldn’t be telling the whole story if I didn’t admit that I’m a tiny bit scared of him—not on my account, really, but more for Jen and Mimi. A few times he’s come by, especially at night, I’ve shooed him away rather abruptly; I’m not crazy about his showing up after dark, even though I’m not sure why.
Today his gambit was that tomorrow is his 50th birthday. I have no reason to doubt this and if it’s true, boy, I sure am looking a lot better at this age than he is. Jonathan has lost close to all his teeth, he’s bald, and if he is what 50 looks like, then I am still a teenager.
Naturally, I couldn’t resist today’s appeal: a financial contribution on the occasion of his half-century anniversary? My initial reaction when he hit me up was to decline, but when he told me tomorrow is his birthday, my wallet came out.
Now, I even wish I had doubled the amount I have him.
posted by Professor Dave at 5:59 PM
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