Paul in Park on Saturday

Ok, so I found him. Up and at’em at a little after 7:00am. No sign. Asked about him. No one saw him. Walked to the Church. Knew he wouldn’t be there for breakfast. Someone said he goes there sometimes, but I never found him there. Who knows?

Women, whose name I forgot, introduced to me by Paul, “you are the camera man. Haven’t seen him. He got into an accident.” Old news.

Yup. Cold. Just enough to freeze fingertips.

Out after 1:00pm. Sharon went on a latke delivery to some of our friends who don’t make it out and cannot prepare potato pancakes. Marc had called. Hadn’t heard from him for a while. Met him in front of Amanda’s apartment where he lives. He has some problems, too, right now. Lucky for him, he still has people to help him. And lucky for me, Larry was nearby. We went for a walk. Returned to the spot a little after two.

Larry had seen him. Said he passed by an hour ago. He pointed towards the park. Weather much milder. No gloves.

Joe Guitar don’t know him.

New guy, didn’t write down his name, didn’t know who he was and couldn’t ID Paul’s picture. He tried to make believe he had been here for a while. Never saw him before.

Met Amanda. She had a mission to come to Westlake to deliver a chair cover. I convinced her to walk with me.

Walked to the park. Dan sat near him, perched on his bike, carrying on. “Some guys won’t make it. He’s one of them.” Dan tried to get him to go for something to eat, worried that Paul couldn’t get into Sally’s for a meal. He looked like a mess.

Brien didn’t give a shit. He remembered me. I didn’t remember him. He shaved. Too interested in Amanda. Not used to WASPy white women in the park when the Farmer’s Market is closed.

He wasn’t interested in food or anything. “Did you go to Pathways?” “Yes. They told me I needed Section 8 housing. Why can’t they just give it to me?” Hey. Not bad. He cannot deal with the bureaucracy. Not many can. He tried. Just too into entitlements. The logical part of his brain don’t work anymore.

“…. Spoke with your sister. She said she would try to find you on Sunday. She said she would be here tomorrow morning after 7:00.” …. I’ll be here earlier. I need to get out of here.”

Author: duckshots

Lapsed lawyer. Reader. Photographer. Jewish. Strongly attached to loving, caring, wife-Sharon. Working at remaining relevant. Hoping that my body and mind outlive my dreams. Maybe something I blog will make some sense.

2 thoughts on “Paul in Park on Saturday”

  1. Word! I’ll be there! I’ll park where I can and go to the Park and north of College and to lower Cherry. I’ll leave the NEK around 5:00am. No significant snow as of 9:45 pm Saturday. Good sign. Mr. Duckman, hopeful to see you there. I’ll be in a maroon parka with a hood. I’m trying to keep my mood tempered, grounded and in balance with my eternal optimism. Yes, I have practical options in place. No, I will not bring Paul home with me.

  2. Thank you,for helping Mary and Paul yesterday… I guess we wait and see if Paul will accept help now.. I am hopeful with reservation … Pray Pray Pray M

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