I just walked outside to get a cup of coffee and a quart of milk at Joe Hug's Deli across the street. As I crossed onto the East side of the street and walked south to the deli I saw a few african-american guys, one in a wheelchair outside of the deli, with cups for change. They were probably homeless.

 

I walked passed the guy in the wheelchair and he said relatively upbeat, "Sir Give me a JallahLuja or spare some change?" I turned and looked back at him, "Jallahluja!" I said quietly. He smiled.

 

I walked inside passed two guys who were holding hands and arguing over what kind of oreos to get. I walked to the back of the store and grab a quart of milk, turn around and walk to the register.

 

About that time one of the flower delivery guys, a young asian guy comes in and hands something to the cashier, turns and walks back outside to his flower stand, the guy in the wheelchair says to him, "JallahLuja!" and holds up his change cup. The asian guy turns his back to him and walks back inside. The guy in the wheel chair starts getting angry, and talking loud, and rolls into the deli.

 

"You're a delivery guy.. you run here and there and all over the place for everyone else, but you couldn't come over to me and say one word, or drop a penny. You probably don't even have a green card. Do you love this country? Ever heard of the Army? Out defending your chink ass. Would you die for this country? ... "

 

I found myself staring at the cashier, also an asian man, who was repeatedly telling me, "two dollars... .two dollars..... TWO DOLLARS."

 

I paid him, grabbed my bag and turned around starting to walk out the door. The guy in the wheelchair turned around and looked at me. He said something under his breath, and looked at me like he wanted to kill me.

 

I nodded at him and walked out. He didn't say a word.

I went back to my apartment, wrote this, had a bowl of cereal with my milk, and went to sleep.

 

His eyes were amazing.