Jaline read the sign with curiosity, the man holding it was hunched over, counting the change of the past few days, given to him by those who were “helping” him out.
“What’s your name?” she asked the man.
“Thomas” he responded.
He looked up at her and brought his arm forth to shake her hand. His hand was weak, as his greeting, but his sincerity was stronger than anyone she had ever encountered. She decided to sit down next to him but was immediately pained with the feeling of giving him just pity, simply struggling with the urge of trying to help beyond giving him dollars or coins. He looked at her a little shocked for a moment and then began to look for something. She decided to people watch and received mostly negative stares from people walking by, as if they themselves were doing any better really. They both sat in silence for a while, watching people come and go out of a doughnut shop. The buses that went by provided a familiar background sound, the 151 bus went by with an internal Bears advertisement heard only when the doors opened. Thomas smiled at the people who watched him, sign in hand, cup of change on the side, but said nothing, except to me.
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