I once gave a homeless guy that I used to buy breakfast/lunch/smokes for all the time, a 12pk of PBR and a bottle of BCBS as I was walking out of a local beer shop with my weekend goodies. I saw him a few days later and he asked if I'd buy him some more of that beer. I came walking out with a 12pk of PBR and handed it to him figuring he'd thank me and I'd leave satisfied that I did good for someone else that day... he pushed it back at me and said " Nah man... not that shit! Gimme some of that "BLACK SHIT" you gave me. Go gimme a 12'r of that shit!" LOL! I almost shit myself that even he knew what the good stuff was! I told him that that "Black Shit" was almost $20 for a 4-pk, he mumbled something about me being a cheap Mother Fucker, grabbed the PBR from me and staggered off. I sat stunned and shocked as some guy outside having a smoke started laughing hysterically. I told him what was up, and he told me more about the guy (was once filthy rich but came back from Vietnam and got fucked out of stuff by his family).



I saw him again a few weeks later as he was pushing his shopping cart, handed him a 4pk of 2008 GI BCBS, a pack of Marlboro menthol and a box of donuts. He hugged me and told me he was gonna buy me lunch. We went to a Deli near by. He turned in his cans and insisted that he buy me whatever I wanted. I ordered a Turkey Hero and he ordered nothing. The guy behind the counter came out, took the cans, winked at me and handed me the sandwich. We walked outside and sat on the steps of the deli. He pulled two bottles of BCBS out of his cart, opened them and handed me one. I unrolled the sandwich and passed him half. He said thank you without ever saying a word. We shared the last bit of sunshine, the sandwich, and a "Black Shit" beer together as brothers, friends, humans...

I never saw him again after that. I'd always liked to think that maybe he got it together and made life happen for himself again... I have no idea tho... I gave him good beer... he gave me a memory and a name I'll never forget.



Miss you Donnie J

Click to expand...