RESCUE MAN by Charles M DuPuy

Author:Charles M DuPuy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CMD Publishers
Published: 2022-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

As I drove back to my apartment, I mulled over ways to spend my newfound wealth in a way that benefitted the neediest people. I knew that many federal and state programs helped the needy, so it made no sense to duplicate any of those. My niche would be in an area where people could benefit from a leg up when my help was their only way out. My head spun with crazy thoughts, but none felt like the right fit for me.

I drove past a small city park and spotted three disheveled-looking bodies stretched out on benches. That gave me an idea. I parked and walked back to them, eyeing them as I approached. I guessed that two were men and one was a woman. Their disheveled appearance made it difficult to tell for certain. I weighed the possibilities. If they were druggies, they were targets for other helping hands. If they were mentally ill, ditto. If they were here because they enjoyed this lifestyle, sleeping in shelters and getting free meals for the rest of their days, any help I offered wouldn’t change anything. The one situation I might be able to turn around was men or women down on their luck, not wanting to live like this but having no other option. I decided to ask each of them a few questions, maybe get some answers.

I sat opposite the body on bench number one, cleared my throat noisily and said, “Hey, how’s it going?”

No response.

I tried again. “Hey, guy, how’re you doing?”

While I waited for a response, my eyes swept the area around the benched body and spotted a used syringe lying on the ground, the dirty needle threatening me by its very presence.

Uh huh.

Time to move on to bench two.

I sat once again on the bench opposite the reclined, immobile body and asked the same question. Might as well be consistent. “Hey, how’s it going?”

“Fuck off!” mumbled the body, its voice betraying it as a male.

“That wasn’t very nice. I came to see if I can help you,” I said, maintaining a calm voice despite the negative odds coming at me.

“I don’t want your help. Fuck off!”

“You must want something,” I said.

“Yeah. I want you to fuck off!”

I couldn’t think of a suitable response to his persistent crudity, so I stood and made my way to bench three and sat opposite the prone body. I coughed with enthusiasm and said, “Hey, how’s it going?”

A head was raised, and two dark eyes peered suspiciously at me. “I don’t know you,” came a high, thin voice. I was right. This body belonged to a female if the high voice was any indication.

“No, you don’t know me. I’m here to see if you’re getting the help you need.” Nice open statement, general enough to pass the muster.

The head brought the upper torso to an upright position and pivoted to face me. The dark eyes searched my face for clues that explained what I was up to. Possibilities came to mind.

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