The word from the street
We’ve raised $1,300 and still counting! Thank you to all. If you would like to participate, you’re invited to leave a donation at the counter at Alternative Grounds, Another Story and Mabel’s Bakery.
The photo is from our posting of Oct 25, 2007. The wreath and candles were placed anonomously in memory of Silvio, a homeless man who was beaten up and left to die nearby.
PHILIP
“Hey Tony. Can I ask you to come up to Alternative Grounds ? There’s this guy in there, he bothering the customers, ranting at them sticking his face in their faces, that sort of thing. I figure you’ll probably know him; he’s about 5′ 6, he’s got a grayish beard, his fly is undone, his clothes are dirty, and he claims to be French Canadian. I just don’t know about him.”
TONY
“Oh yeah, I know him alright. If he’s the guy I think he is, he’ll be looking to swipe their tip jar too. I’ll come up and watch him so he doesn’t get any ideas, if you know what I mean.”
PHILIP
“Thanks Tony. I think everyone will feel safer with you in there.”
TONY
“Damn right. They should.”
PHILIP
“You want to hear my favourite quote? I just put it up on the chalkboard in Alternative Grounds. It’s from Lincoln. So the quote is: “Have I not destroyed my enemies if I have made friends of them?’ Deep, eh?”
TONY
“You’re not kidding! That’s what you gotta do if you’re where I am — or else.”
No sign of Tony as I take my seat at Alternative Grounds on a vaguely cloudy Tuesday morning. He wasn’t here yesterday either. Hmmm.
Philip
TONY
“Did you see Bruce today?”
PHILIP
“Who?”
TONY
“Come on, you know the guy I’m talking about. He had the scraggly beard and was shouting inside Alternative Grounds and pressing doorbells. You know the guy I’m talking about?”
PHILIP
“Yup. What happened to him? He seemed totally out-of-it the last time I saw him.”
TONY
“Well, he got himself cleaned up, got his beard shaved and everything. You know, what he told me was that he finally went down to the St. Joe’s and asked for some help and they actually gave it to him. If you ask me, I didn’t think he had it in him. Shows you what I know.”
“Anyway, believe it or not, I gave the guy a loonie; he really needed it.”
Homeless Man Speaks 