text: Hey everyone , I am not native English speaker so please dont judge hard on grammar. P.S it is unedited People tend to go to the supermarket after 5 pm to shop after work. It is also the time when many damned, jobless alcoholics, drug addicts, homeless, poor and crippled people can be seen lurking around public areas, such as shops, begging for some money. Some of them are going to use this cash to enjoy another synthetic nirvana provided by another dose of heroine, others are going to drown themselves in a bottle of cheap liquor. But for some it is the only source of their survival. So it is for this crippled man who lost both of his legs many years ago. He can be seen coming around 5 pm next to the shop, taking out this already yellow plastic cup and standing on what is left of his knees while keeping his balance on cheap, already repaired many times, wooden crutches. Nobody knows his name. In fact, nobody ever asked. All they know is that he comes here every day and begs for money while silently looking into the void. And everything people ever have heard from him was silent ,,Thank you” after they dropped few coins into his cup. Most of them simply pass through him and never ever notice this man. Although, some people always pour into his cup few spare coins. He never looks into their eyes. At least it is good for this crippled man that it is May. During the winter it’s very tough for him. When snow is falling there is no distinction between him and a snowman. Although, no matter the weather, he still keeps coming. Rain in autumn, snow in winter. It does not matter. There was a vendor who had her own coffee and tea cart next to the shop that was giving him tea to warm himself up during low temperature. But due to disputes with the supermarket that has their own coffee machine she lost her spot near the shop. So, nobody provided tea for this man this winter. That time he coughed very hard and people were afraid that they may catch tuberculosis from him. But as the May came and sun started to shine more often, temperature was over 15 degrees Celsius, he regained what is left of his health and people were more likely to give him some money because he wasn’t frightening them anymore. He always liked May. The smell of spring, the blossom of flowers were one of the very few things that made him happy. As he was standing near the shop doing his regular activity he noticed a group of kids around 12-13 years old kicking a football ball while going to the shop. Most likely they are going to buy some soda and chips he thought of himself. Those kids always do. He remember his youth. Kicking the ball as good as you can to impress a that dark haired girl with grey eyes, laughing with friends, running from the neighbour’s dog after stealing apples. Those memories started to fade away long time ago. There was merely what is left of them. But they still managed to help him not kill himself every day he came to the place home. This home was a social housing provided to him. It was only 10 square meters bedroom. Bathroom, kitchen, laundering room and other necessary things he had to share with whores, drug addicts and different anti social people. Poor families were not housed with them due to possible bad impact on children. He tried to find a woman himself but he never succeeded. Most likely due his bad sense of humor. As he didn’t liked his place he spent most of his spare time lurking around and begging for money as his pension couldn’t cover his basic expenses for medicine. Yet the only joy in his apartment was a vinyl. He enjoyed classic rock music. Very often while he was begging he sang his favorite lyrics in his head. ,,*There’s feeling I get when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving, in my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, and the voices of those who stand looking, that’s you”.* He remembered his youth and that girl. Yet he never smiled. He was just still looking into the void while hearing coins dropping and saying both mandatory and sincere ,,Thank you”. That Monday after he collected nearly a half of his cup he struggled to the shop to buy some bread, tea and cheapest vodka. Most people are going to judge him for buying booze but it was something that could help him loosen that tension from being a cripple. He knew that it wont help, but at least it was something that allowed him to forget in what miserable situation he lives in. He came home, put on a vinyl and stared to drink. Not that he felt himself a rockstar, but at least he was jamming. ,, *Why she had to go? I don’t know, she wouldn’t say, I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday”.* As he finished his bottle he passed out quite early. Not that he had to wake up early he tried to maintain regular schedule to keep himself sane. Tuesday wasn’t his favorite day. There wasn’t many people that went shopping on Tuesdays, which meant, that his ability to collect enough money for a day was very much limited. And yet he still came around 4 pm this time and patiently waited. Some people were passing by. Others came and gave him some money but didn’t forget to mention don’t drink (most likely they have smelled amber from yesterday). All he said in response was silent ,,Thank you”. It was already 7 o’clock and his cup wasn’t even half full. He was already hungry but hadn’t enough money to buy food. He was staring in front of him and was hating every moment he stood there. He hated himself, people that passed by and those who gave him money while not forgetting to say something about that he should not drink. It was already getting dark. He wasnt expecting much anymore. Just staring into the void. Thinking something. You couldnt guess whether his thoughts were happy or sad. But you could understand that he wasnt happy. And then this family passed by with this young girl. As they were passing by they stopped in front of him, gave something into a hand of this yound, innocent angel and while smiling encouraged her to do something. She started walking towards this crippled man. He didint lift his eyes up until he noticed very small feet when she was already next to him. As she was pouring coins, cup felt very heavy. He looked into his eyes and you could say that there was both joy and tears gathering. Shy girl ran away from this man. After she left his eyes were focued on a spot where she stood. But he wasnt looking there. It was a long time since he smiled. After few hours he went to the shop to buy some bread, jam and tea. This evening will be different he thought of himself. Week after this family went to the shop again with their daughter. They promised that they will allow her to give this poor man some money again. As they came they noticed that he wasnt there. A girl asked her father *Maybe he changed his spot?“. ,,Yes, most likely“* her father answered looking at his daughter with eyes full of tears but still smiling.