Here I am. I have been at the corner for about an hour and half. My stomach’s been grumbling since last night. It stayed quiet for a while thanks to Mrs. Svenson’s stale piece of meat pie. It will soon start to rain and the snow isn’t too far away. That reminds me I must look for cover. 40 years ago when I came to this great city, I was worse off. Being roughed up by locals isn’t anybody’s idea of having fun. Well, I can’t bother to worry about something that happened 4 decades ago. Right now I need shelter. The wind is howling and blowing on my face.

Hey Susan! What are you doing in that corner! Don’t you wanna go get a drink? ‘No I can’t, I would be happier if someone could get me a sandwich. Make it cheese sandwich please. 3 days ago when I ate my last meal, the bread was too dry. How I wish I could taste some fresh milk!’ Susan, you must try the other block. Rich folks walk around there more often, they might get a little generous.

I gotta tear this part of my cap, that will make me look more pathetic. Ol’ Mr. Wallace wouldn’t be too happy if I went back to the den with only a couple of coins. Must I try tearing my jeans more and reveal some skin? But that would chill my bones at night. No thank you. I shall instead rub some mud on my face and look little dirtier. Now is this pathetic enough? I guess it is. He he, it is funny when people go ‘tsk tsk’ and drop a coin or two on my face.

The lice in my pubes are too much to handle. I have scratched enough to get my privates bleed. Wonder why the lice become more active at night. And I smell so bad; the cops always chase me after kicking me awake by the pavement. I have to save my ass or I’ll bleed more. Run. Run. Run. I ran enough today, let me see where I could get some sleep, probably on that old bridge where no one goes? The stench is a little funny, but what the hell, it is all right.

Next time I see a well-fed pig, I shall hunt him/her down and grab all that they have when they walk by this alley. It infuriates me to see them well-fed and loaded wallets while I stay here, by the dustbin and rummage through the garbage. That loaded wallet must keep my stomach filled for a week or two.

The buns at the Royal Bakery are so fresh. I can smell them from here, I can’t stop myself. I grab a couple and walk away. Good he didn’t notice this morning. The last time I was caught, they took me to the station and beat me up black and blue. It still hurts; I can’t run as fast as I could earlier. The vicious cane came right on my ankles. It must have broken a bone or two.

I hate these rats. They nibble at my feet; they probably are hungrier than I am. But I’m not gonna let some frigging rat nibble at my feet and have his stomach filled. Take that, and that. Ugh. The drains are usually warmer than up on the pavement. Only these fat rodents get on my nerves. How I wish I could sleep in a house at night. What would it be like to have a bed? And a blanket?

The homeless have been rehabilitated and we have been providing them with training and jobs. Ok now I’m lying. Many come to the city and stay on; not knowing the future is bleak. We have to either send them packing, which we can’t or get rid of them somehow. The next time the assembly meets; I must ask that geezer of a mayor to put me in the marketing department. This entire stench is unbearable. I need to get rid of this job. If I’m not given a different profile, I’ll consider starting a business. So much for my career in politics. Ugh.

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