Behind The Bush (tiltle not final)
It happend on a sunday night. The was wet and foggy, same as the night before. I gazed at the moon peeking through the tree branches as I laid on the cold concrete bench. I pulled myself off the bench knowing I needed dinner for that night. I looked in my pocket to see if I used the five dollar bill given to me by a young lady. It was gone. I forgot that I used it to buy a burrito for me and Sparky on friday. I tied one side of a rope to my dog and the other to my worn down bike. The two of us rode to the closest dumpster; Sparky running by my side on the dirty San Francisco streets.
I parked the bike and let the dog off the rope. We were looking for about a half hour, I finally found three pieces of pizza left in a papa johns box. I ate two and gave the other to Sparky, who scarfed it down and ran off. I knew I needed to go back to the park bench or someone else might take it for the night. “Sparky” I called. No answer. “Come on” Still no answer. “Okay i’m leaving”. Then I heard his bark, it sounded like an echo. I faintly saw him behind a bush. I walked closer and saw Sparky panting, holding a brown bag in his mouth. “What’s in there you crazy dog?” He handed it to me nudging me to open it. The bag felt damp and had wrinkles from being in the bush. As soon as my eyes peeked at that soggy brown bag my mouth immediately dropped, I literally thought it was a dream. In that bag was 500,000 dollars worth of cash.
I was homeless, and have been for almost my whole life. I was used to sleeping under a tree or on a bench in the park, eating out of trash can or food giving to me by some random person that felt badly for me. I haven’t bought a new t-shirt or brushed my hair in almost 3 years. People on the street stared at me. The only people who even smiled were kids, usually under the age of 7. Those smiles given to me brightened my day. It is an amazing feeling to know you are loved, to know that someone cares for you.
Looking back at I now I wonder what would happen if I never looked at that bag. If I just stayed on that concrete bench all night without finding dinner. I still don’t know if looking inside the bag was a good idea. All I know is that the minute I opened it my life immediately changed.
I took the money. I couldn’t leave it there, I just couldn’t leave 500,000 in a bush. I took it back to the that same bench under the same tree. That night it was impossible to sleep. Every once in a while I took out the bag and just stared at the money inside it. My mind was blank, I was so tempted to keep it and finally leave the miserable homeless lifestyle. At the same time I almost felt bad for taking it. What if someone threw this away as a mistake? What if they wanted it back?
I woke up to the sound of dog barks and cars beeping. Sparky saw another dog, a beautiful golden retriever on walk with his owner. They were both barking at one another. I got up and shhed my dog. Sorry I said to the owner. She smiled back at me, just a little smile but still, it was a smile.
I rode my bike to the same place where the money was found. It looked a lot different than it looked last night, probably because it was dark. I looked at the bush. Looked the same as last night, except no money bag hidden inside. I looked a little closer, there was a large shoe print in the dirt under the bush. I couldn’t it of been mine, I had a different print on the bottom of my shoe. I knew it wasn’t there last night while I was there, I throughly inspected the area when I found the money. But wait, there was a word in the shoe print. It said: Dr. Sholls size 13. This could could be a clue helping me figure out who left the money, or it could just be a random foot print. I’ll think of it as a clue.
That night, for choosing where to find my dinner I had a big decision to make. I had choose if I wanted to keep the money or return it to whoever put it there, under that dirty old bush.
I rode to Mcdonalds and bought myself my first hamburger in one year and 7 months. The whole meal costing exactly $4.60. I gave Sparky chicken nuggets from a kids meal. I still was hungry, I bought two more. One for now and one for later. I have never been able to splurge like this, just buying whatever I want. I wasn’t used to it and wasn’t sure if I ever would be.
I promised myself that this was going to be the last night of us sleeping under a tree. I decided that I was going to rent a motel room the next day for me and Sparky to live in for a few days, or weeks. With a full stomach me and Sparky slept I think the best night we have slept in years.
I couldn’t decide between motel 6 or motel 8, both at convenient locations. While I thought about it, I got on my bike and rode to a small mens store and bought myself some new jeans and two new shirts, one black and one blue. I looked a little better, but still had a little scruff on my face. It was good enough, I didn’t look as homeless as before.
I decided on motel 8, it was closest to the local grocery store and dog park. Plus, it allowed dogs. We arrived at the motel at about 12:30, there was no line in the small lobby. The man at the front desk was very large, with thick gray hair.
“Hello, welcome to motel 8 do you need anything?” he said in a deep voice.
“Yeah, ugh can I get a room?”
“Sure thing, let me get you the contract. Sign here.
“Yeah ok”
He told me that having a dog would cost me 15 bucks a night. Whatever.
I parked my bike in the back of the building and then headed up to my room. It was small and smelt like an old lady. But it was a definite upgrade from last night. I set my garbage bag down in the closet and took a long hot shower. I laid down on the bed with Sparky. His tail was wagging strong and heavily, he had the biggest dog smile on his face that i’ve every seen. We both were extremely happy, and wished that the moment would last forever and ever.
Two weeks passed, I was on the path of living the life of my dreams. I bought a truck, a big white one. I had a whole wardrobe now, all different colors and styles. I depostited the money in the bank, just for safe keping. I went out for dinner at least four times a week, I gave Sparky the leftovers when I came home. It took so long to get used to the word “home”. It gave me this incredible feeling inside. It was was the feeling of being safe, being able to rely on a place to live.
In no time, it had already been 6 months months since the night I found the money. I was spending money like crazy. I bought a laptop, ate out every night of the week, bought an apartment and started taking a few collage classes. I even traveled to three places. I took a cruise to Hawaii, went to Europe and Africa. I was also trying to get a job.
At ten and a half months, I was living the normal everyday life. I was getting used to the life stye of someone with money. One night I went to the bank to get money for dinner. I wanted $100. The woman told me I only had $812.69 left in my account. Those words sent a terrifying chill down my spine.
“I sorry but how much do I have in my account?”
“Eight hundred twelve dollars and sixty nine cents” She said much slower.
“No, no no no that can’t be right, I had 27,000 last time I checked my account”
“Well when was the last time you were here?”
“Ummm about I don’t know, A month or two?”
“Well then it’s pretty clear that you spent it all.”
“I couldn’t have, it must be wrong”
“Sir, i’m just reading what the computer says, it is a very very low chance that there is a mistake with the function of it. Now if you can would you come back at a different time, there is a big line and honestly I’m very tired.” The woman said trying to stay calm.
Suddenly I remembered about my vacations. They must of costed at least 10,000 dollar each. It made complete sense, I just couldn’t believe it happened so fast.
I had a plan. I was going to get a job. Sell my laptop, and some other things I bought. this will earn me a little more time to find a job. I tried out for every job I could get my hands on. I only was invited back for an interview for 3 of them. Two of them would make me a sales person, one a carpenter. I hated the idea of working for all of them, but I knew if I didn’t I would end up back on the streets.
I chose the carponder. The salory as the lowest but it was the only job that I was offered. I was making 10 dollars and hour, it was better than nothing.
Soon, I had none of the money in the bag left. I was relying on 10 dollars an hour. We were one step away from being on the streets.
For the next two years the job was working out fine. I sold the apartment and the car and we went back to living in the motel. I couldn’t comlplain. I was able to take a hot shower and sleep in a warm bed.
Every so often I thought about the money bag. I thought about how stupid I was to spend it so fast, not knowing about how money really works. I also thought about taking the money. Taking the money from someone, someone who might of needed that money very badly. Maybe even more than I did.
Rarely, I even thought about what my life would of been like it I never was homeless. If I never ran away from my warm Arizona home in the first place. I was a child then, about 13 years old. I never knew that I would end up on the streets. I was mad at my parents for something I can’t even remember now. That was the worst choice I ever chose to make in my whole. I will never forgive myself.
One tuesday night after a tiring day of work I came home took a shower, and laid on the bed with Sparky. This routine was getting old, Go to work, come home, go to bed. I needed something else in my life, something spontaneous.
Early the next morning I got up and walked with Sparky to the train station. I checked the train times and decided to catch the earliest one, going to Arizona. The only thing I took with me was 500 dollars in my pocket.
I wanted to start a new chapter of my life. I wanted to meet new people and experience new things. I wanted to forget about being homeless and just see what I can really do.
It took thirty five minutes for the train to come, Sparky and I hopped on. The only seat available on the top floor was next to an elderly woman who was looking out the window. I sat down next to her and made Sparky sit in the isle.
“What a beautiful dog.” The woman said.
“Oh Thank you, that’s Sparky”
The minute I heard her voice I knew exactly who she was. That woman was my mother.
