Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Crazy as a Bedbug: Peeps and the Homeless Woman



"I love all these peeps," Lisa, a student nurse, tweeted to her friend, Dorica."

"Unlike some people, she's as crazy as a bedbug!"

"We don't know that!"

"She just sits in the park all day, never talks to anyone but herself, and looks like she has never washed her hair," replied Dorica.

"Maybe the woman just needs a friend?"

"Then, you can be her friend. I am far too busy!"

Lisa had a heart for people and so after their conversation, she decided to try to befriend the homeless woman.

The next day, Lisa approached her cautiously, and politely asked if she could sit down on the park bench, too. The surprised woman nodded her consent, moved her huge, tote bag closer, like a protective barrier, but remained silent.

Shortly thereafter, Lisa offered the woman a cup of hot coffee from her thermos and some warm biscuits. She tried to make casual conversation with her.

"Sh, listen and you will hear the peeps!" the elderly, bedraggled woman finally said to her, without looking up.

Lisa listened carefully, but could not hear anything.

The next day, Lisa went back again, sat down on the park bench and handed the woman another cup of fresh coffee. The woman accepted it graciously, saying, "Thanks."

Lisa decided to visit her every day, as she was obviously alone and needed a friend.

"Peep, peep!" the woman said excitedly, the next morning, pointing at a solitary robin, pulling worms out of the ground. "There is a nest with baby birds over there."

It took about a week before Matilda, the elderly woman, would talk to her, at any length. She was a widow, who lived in the homeless shelter down the street. She had to leave the shelter during the day and returned every night. The park was the only place where she wanted to go, because the birds were her friends, her only friends.

"Peep, peep," tweeted Lisa to Dorica. "I have a new friend who loves robins." 

"You befriended her?"

"Yes, I have a heart for people. Want to meet Matilda?"

"I am not really a people person, but maybe, just this once."

"You can see the baby robins."

"Maybe I could bring some bird seed!"


"Then, you would have a friend for life!"


No comments:

Post a Comment