A friend returns

Whiskey hitch-hiked to Kearney from Kansas City.  He said it only took him 2 lifts.  They let him off at the Kearney exit, he couldn't remember which way but looked around and headed East.  He stopped at the Pour Boys to ask directions to the Methodist church but they didn't know so he kept walking. Next he stopped and asked at a Garage Sale and they told him he was headed in the right direction.  After a 2 mile hike he arrived just in time for volleyball at the Fall Festival.  Usually there isn't anything going on at the church on most Saturday afternoons so he picked the perfect day for his trek.  He discovered a few familiar faces and said he was looking for Cathy.  She had helped him get his birth certificate when he needed it to get something and had asked her to keep it in safekeeping for him.  

He was invited to join in the potluck dinner while Cathy was called.  She was on her way home and knew right where the certificate was.  She soon arrived with the birth certificate and a big hug.  He and Cathy caught up while the rest of us began to put away the food and clean up.

Most of the original group under the railroad bridge had moved on.  Marvin had suffered from gout all winter and could barely get around.  Some new folk had moved into the area and there were altercations between them and the rest of them who had formed a little community.  The land owners became less tolerant of them and most just moved on or were chased away.  Whiskey was now living under an overpass with two others on Truman Road.

Cathy had to leave and I sat on the curb and we visited while Vince finished carrying the tables inside.  It was a beautiful Autumn day, perfect for sitting in the sunshine.  He said the food was good and he was stuffed.  He found out I was a librarian and he said he loves to read and told me his favorite authors.  We discussed book genres a bit and then he mentioned that he always carries a book and he reached around and pulled one out of his pack.  He gets them from thrift stores.

We had offered to drive him back "home" and asked if there was anything he needed.  He asked for a sweat shirt, some Tylenol and maybe a tent.  We stopped by our house and Vince found 3 heavy sweatshirts and let him pick while I went down to the basement to dig out the boys' old tent.  I had just picked all of my tomatoes and peppers that were still on the vines in anticipation of frost and they were setting in a basket on the kitchen table.  He told me he used to have big garden and we talked gardening a bit.  I let him choose some tomatoes to take with him and handed him a bottle of Tylenol, too, then we headed into the city.  

He directed us off the exit and under the overpass to a gas station.  He pointed to the back near the dumpster and there was an alcove out of the wind with an upside-down 5 gallon bucket.  He pointed proudly and said "that's where I sit all day.  I got permission."  and that is where with left him with a wave and a smile and some fresh tomatoes.