Today I had a 20 minute slot to buy and eat lunch, so I walked to the nearest place: Mollie Stones. That place is ridiculously expensive: bought a roast beef harvarti sandwich ($7.99 for a 5 inch slice) and a cup of red pepper gouda soup ($6.99 for a small bowl!), but I was famished from all the talking and standing at work. I walked outside and ate quietly while flipping through my phone at a nearby table. Then a chubby man who looked and talked as though he was slightly confused asked me if he could sit at my table because everywhere else was taken. He looked about 40, stubbly, his backpack was battered, and his grey shirt had mild dusty/milky stains (I had a hunch it was black before...). I was a small girl surrounded by many passing people at a big table, why would I need to keep it all to myself? "Of course," I said with my mouth full.
He said thank you and said that his friend was going to join as well. He also added that his friend was a 'very nice man' and thanked me again.
I nodded and continued to eat my meal in silence as he pulled out a half moldy lined notebook and proceeded to look through the bent pages. With his peppered brows furrowed, he looked hard at what was scribbled inside, whereas I stared at the back cardboard page that was reminiscent of a swiss cheese gone bad.
Then a skinny old man with a crutch on one side and a pharmacy bag held in the other hand hobbled next to our table. The man in the black/gray t-shirt asked for my name. I answered truthfully, "Sandra, and you?"
Dang it, why couldn't I think of an alias. "Well, I'm Willie and this is my friend..." That's all I got, I wasn't paying too close of attention. I was far too hungry than to listen for his very nice friend's name.
Willie looked at his friend, "Let me get you your lunch."
His frail friend with untamed white hair simply answered, "Okay."
Willie took out a 20 bill from his disheveled wallet stuffed with tattered business cards and receipts. "You better spend at least $10."
His friend with sudden gusto, "HA! That will only get me a salad."
Myself, 'Truth.'
His friend, "What about you Willie? You gettin' anything?"
Willie, "You go ahead, I will wait here."
I watched this in slight disbelief and embarrassment because of my judgments. I shyly offered with my mouth less full, "You both can go ahead, I will save your guys' spots."
Willie "No, no, I'm not hungry. Thank you Sandra. You go on ahead __(friends name)__."
Again, I was still in disbelief and I did not catch his friend's name for the second time.
The friend took the $20 and marched (with a limp) into the store to get his lunch. I finished my sandwich in silence, and tried to piece together what could possibly be the story line here, who these people were, and why Willie was buying this man's lunch who accepted the offer so easily. I told Willie "It was nice to meet you, have a good lunch." as I got out of my chair.
He said, "Thanks again Sandra!" with his face still in it's confused position.
I don't know why, but it made me feel good for the rest of the day because I misjudged.
