The Thoroughness of a Good Whore: Buying Into What's Left of the American Dream

Yesterday, I met a small-framed man with a red bandanna tied around his shaggy gray hair. His skin was tanned to leather. He fit the part of old hippie, and he slightly resembled Charles Manson, which is maybe why I trusted him right away.


"Hey, chief!" he said. I was on my way into Bristol Farms to get coffee. "How are you today?" I said I was fine and asked how he was. "I could use fifty cents," he said, "or hell, I'd be happy to get a dollar." I couldn't resist giving him a buck. The demand wasn't strenuous.

I pulled out one dollar and wondered if I should be giving him more. He thanked me, I walked away. Suddenly, "Hey you!" he shouted. I turned, a little concerned why he was shouting at me. Did he want another dollar? Dear Jesus, let this guy leave me alone. "Hey, thank you so much, brother," he called. He stared into my eyes. He was thankful.

The most unworthy Americans: they NYPD's continued brutality

I went inside, bought my coffee, browsed the fresh fruits and vegetables section, and then left. He was standing outside. Shit, I thought, here we go again. I looked him in the eyes, expecting him to ask for more. He stared at me too, and we didn't say anything for one awkward moment. A couple other people walked by, but I was hardly paying attention. I was nervous about what he was going to say, or not say.

The old homeless hippie reached out a fist, and we bumped knuckles. His eyes intensely watched me. "Thank you," he said again, "I love you, brother." And that was all. I walked away feeling like I should have bought him coffee, even a meal, whatever he needed. Fuck it that I'm just a student and taking on a lot of debt. I've never seen anyone so sincerely grateful for one dollar. I had clean clothes, a backpack, a car. He didn't seem to have much more than the dirty clothes he was wearing.

And that's the issue. I keep giving out my student loan money to the homeless and destitute wandering the streets of Los Angeles. I suspect a lot of people with very little give to those with even less. We know how easily we could be them, how easily we could be out of work, out of our apartments, and on the streets. I don't need a wild imagination to picture myself in serious financial difficulty. It's not like there are any new jobs being created.

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