Over the course of three days, I had fully become a beggar, I dressed like one, slept like one, right at the alleyway. But I didn't really eat like one, and I depended on Brody, my begging buddy.
Mind you, I depended on Brody, because I barely got enough to hold on to, the days I got $10 were very great days, and it was just once, I wondered what made them give Brody money, and not me. Maybe because I was young? And a girl? And they thought I was digging a beggar? Hmm, maybe… I couldn't tell either.
"Damn it, I'm tired of this shit" I snarled in despair. It was a hot afternoon, a mildly busy one, I hadn't gotten any dime on my coin bin but Brody had his own getting filled up as the day progressed.
I shouldn't even worry, because literally, he was getting money for the both of us. We had breakfast, Lunches and sometimes dinners, if the money was enough of course. And it was all from his own pocket.
"You shouldn't even complain" he said, with a cheerful face.
"And why's that?" I asked in the heat of the sun, which was heating my pain and despair up.
"Can't you work?" He asked. And right then, a middle-aged lady passed by and dropped $10 on his bin. He was excited. I looked at him and shook my head.
"Can't you?" I retorted.
"It's not about me, girl, it is about you. But mind you, nothing comes easy, sometimes I do not get a cent. You're lucky that you found someone like me. And I can tell you one thing, girl, is a dog's life out here. Life's full of hard work and worry…" he grabbed the half bottle of coke beside him and poured it all into his mouth, throwing the bottle behind us "and with very little pleasure. That is why I would always spend these dollars each day, no matter how small the pleasure may be. After all, life's for living. I won't, and can't kill myself, and you can't either" he said, with a path on my shoulder.
"Nice sermon," I muttered.
"Have you noticed something about the ladies?" He asked, counting the money inside his bin with his eyes.
"No" I shook my head, "why?"
"They are natural givers…" I stared at him for a while with the memories of the past resurfacing in front of me, he might be right, I thought. Women really, are natural givers. They give love, unconditionally, care, most of them put other people first, money, help, and let's not forget, their body.
I shook my head repeatedly to get the thoughts out of my head.
"Oh yeah… I guess" I replied, after a short silence had toiled on the moment.
"Most of the people that drop me money are the women, I like 'em. They are the ones to look out for" he concluded.
****
One week later, things weren't changing that much. I didn't get money like Brody did. And we hadn't taken our baths for over a week, we stunk, and my clothes were really looking like shit. I hadn't changed it, nor washed it. But who cared anyways? As long as we ate, and slept, we were good.
I had to do something. But I knew not what to do. I wasn't as old as Brody. I couldn't be living like a mad man, and a beggar at such a young age, I was insulting my life, really. Plus, I was a woman for Christ sake!
It was around 5pm, and the sun was retreating back behind the clouds. Vehicles were moving steadily along the road, and the road had people, who were either coming back from work, done with their shifts, or the ones who were about to work their shifts.
I was patiently waiting for a sign, anything at all, that could bring me something better than begging with Brody.
A white lady, about 5ft tall, in her early 40's crossed the road and walked up to us, she opened her purse which seemed heavy, and brought out $20, which she dropped on Brody's bin. As excited as he was, I was already planning on how to spend mine, what good food I was going to buy, but she looked at me with her blue eyes behind transparent eyeglasses, and closed her purse. Waving at us, with a little sincere smile.
I was surprised that she didn't give me, I checked myself over and over again. I know I stinked, but Brody stinked more. I know I looked like a mad man, but Brody's appearance was heavier. And immediately, I felt nothing but anger and I despised the lady.
I couldn't take it anymore, so I stood up and walked briskly until I closed up enough space behind her. I glanced around quickly, everyone was minding their own business, so I quickly closed the gap between us and rushed at her purse, which she held in one hand.
I snatched her purse away from her, and she started screaming for help. I ran back to the Alleyway, not even stopping, and with all the strength I could muster up, I hurdled the iron bar fence and ran off down the other alleyway.
I kept on running through the calm alleyway, until something hit me on my leg, forcing me to fall down together with the weight of the running.
I winced in pain and saw the purse being taken up from where it fell down away from me.
I looked up and saw a terrific looking black dude, he knocked me down and had the fruit of my labour In his hands. He opened the purse in such a haste and his eyes widened, there was really enough money in there.
"Hey! Give me that! That's mine!" I yelled, trying to get up, but my leg was still suffering from the hit. I managed to limp up, and that was when the sound of a siren drew near, and the black dude ran off at the sight of two cops running towards us.
In situations like this, whether you didn't know how to run before, you would immediately adapt, for survival.
So, I ran, even when they shouted at me to stop or they would shoot. I ran for survival, with fear, pain and anger. Most especially, I didn't want to end up behind bars. Who was going to bail me? Who would come to see me? Who would notice that I left? No one, so I kept on running, even though I didn't know where I was running to.
As I was about to divert to another street from a building edge, I dived to the ground, and immediately, my chest was laid on the ground while my two hands were drawn back mercilessly, and I felt the cold metal wrapped to my two hands, and locked. My hands were tightly locked. I was handcuffed and pulled up.
"You're under arrest for daylight robbery and assault"
The two other cops approached, panting, and one of them took me by my arms, heading to where their car was parked.
"I know , I know I'm under arrest for robbery, but assault? How? Who did I assault?" I stammered in fear.
"What is a young girl like you doing out here?! What have you got yourself into?"
Wait, how was I getting strong? How was I able to run? I guess, when life gives you lemons, you have to umm, lick it… I guess.
"You will explain yourself when we reach the station. Hiding behind being a beggar. You're so busted today." He scorned.