Homeless Ed
"Hello ladies and gentlemen, my name is Homeless Ed. You can call me homeless for short."
This is how Homeless Ed introduces himself on the subway. This is how Homeless Ed begins his long and remarkably articulate speech about why the kind people of the subway should give him some money to get by. Homeless Ed was wearing yellow sweatpants and a pair of sneakers with the backs smashed down, what I like to call the Slipper Conversion. These are sure signs of a man who has ceased to concern himself with the opinions others may have about his wardrobe. This is especially unique for a city like New York, where everyone walks around astutely aware that behind every set of eyes is a potential fashion-oriented judgement. Homeless Ed did not care about what he looked like. Homeless Ed just wanted some money, "or maybe some deodorant, so I can smell human again. Then maybe people will start treating me like a human again." After Homeless Ed made this accurate observation about his appearance and odor, he sobered the speech he was giving. It was obvious Homeless Ed was a smart guy, probably troubled by some mental disease, but he knew he looked horrible. He knew he smelled horrible. He carried his stuff around in trash bags. He just wanted some money, maybe some deodorant, "I love you all, because that's what Jesus would do" he concluded. Homeless Ed got a few bucks, then changed trains. I think he was avoiding the older homeless man who got on at the next stop and started singing Kiss From A Rose by Seal.
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