JIMMY'S WORLD
Jimmy blinked, yawned and sat up. Concealed within thick shrubbery, he rose and folded his blanket of newspaper before peering out. His sleeping place must remain secret. Jimmy sported scars to testify the dangers of sleeping in plain view. Unkindness and bounty went hand in hand in this city.
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| PHOTO PROMPT © Marie Gail Stratford |
Jimmy scuffed his way out of the undergrowth and took up his post opposite Bloomingdales.
He had found the optimal distance. Close enough to attract the pity of punters and far enough not to attract the wrath of the management.
He adjusted his buttocks on the unyielding sidewalk and waited.
I hope you enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading your comments.
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p.s. a quick plea to Wordpress bloggers whose settings require people to log in to their Wordpress account in order to leave a comment - this prevents Blogger users like me from leaving comments on your stories.
A harsh existence, I admire his fortitude.
ReplyDeleteYes, whenever I see a homeless person I wonder how they cope.
ReplyDeleteSympathetic observation on a side of humanity often overlooked - well written.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lizy. Sometimes we can be too busy thinking about our own lives to consider how others' live.
DeleteDear Susan,
ReplyDeleteJimmy's definitely a survivor, isn't he? Pity anyone should have to live like that. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks, Rochelle. Yes, he's a tough one.
DeleteA hard life, especially as Winter approaches. Nice story!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I'm posting my four sven-year-old "Flash 55" stories this Friday night.
Uhhh, that should have been "seven," not "sven," obviously.
DeleteOh good - I'm looking forward to reading them.
DeleteWe have been very fortunate not to have to learn what Jimmy knows. Your story highlights the old saying "Someone always has it worst than you".
ReplyDeleteYes, I've seen people who live difficult lives in many different countries. It's astonishing how resilient humans are though.
DeleteI have found Jimmy many times! Neat story!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think most of us have seen he Jimmys of this world.
DeleteDown and out in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteSo common across the globe but always provokes a sad thought on the state of our society.
Indeed!
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ReplyDeleteClearly he is genuinley needy. Today, so often they are not. Nice one Susan.
ReplyDeleteClick to read my FriFic!
Yes, Jimmy lives by his wits, through no fault of his own.
DeleteA harsh existence for Jimmy, and opposite a place where money is spent like water.
ReplyDeleteA succinct little snapshot of life on the streets. Well done for summing it up so concisely!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helen. I think he deserves a longer story really.
DeleteSadly but true there are Jimmys everywhere irrespective of different countries and cities. Susan your story portrays their account accurately.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Norma.
Thanks, Norma. :)
DeleteWell written. By showing us how Jimmy has found the best position to sit begging, you show him at his most human - adapting to his environment, thinking things out, surviving. And by this means, you enlist our sympathy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts, Penny.
ReplyDeleteNicely painted scene
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it, Dahlia.
DeleteI know a fair number of young men who do that. They like to talk about the perfect distance. In fact, two of them are sleeping in my son's van right now.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting to know, Alice. I put it in my story because it seemed logical. I had no idea that young homeless men talk about 'the perfect distance'.
ReplyDeleteAn image of reality you have painted...perhaps a flash snapshot is what is needed "regularly" rather than a long story. That way people will read it through again and again and again...changing things here and there to ensure they do read it. The cold is their enemy and I worry this time of year for the next 4 months here.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad situation that happens in cities all over the world but it always seems worse when cold weather is added to the mix.
ReplyDeleteIt's so tough, living on the streets. Unbelievably hard and dangerous. Well written
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynn. Yes, they live such difficult lives.
DeleteWell, that's cheery! Sadly it isn't fiction for some.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Patsy - I can't always do happy.
DeleteI feel that we were telling about the same person almost... sad that some has to sleep in the street
ReplyDeleteYes, when I read your poem I realised we had chosen the same subject matter.
DeleteA resilient man. Strange how so many of us went in the direction of the underprivileged when seeing this prompt. well done.
ReplyDeleteI think it's because we see the homeless in cities and associate cities with inequality. Certainly I've never seen homeless people in villages.
ReplyDelete