Met Otis of the Bay in Starbucks on Market Street today!
I was halfway through my blueberry muffin when I heard,
"Good morning Sir! My name is Otis."
I looked up. It was one of San Francisco's many homeless. He held out his hand to greet me. I didn't reciprocate. He didn't take offence and kept on talking.
" I have a sign that I would like you to read."
I glanced at the sign. It was the flap from a cardboard box. It had a texta message scrawled on it. It said something about needing a certain amount of money a day to live on.

"Otis we are trying to have some coffee here!"
He got my message and moved away ...to the couple at the next table. This guy took out a big roll of money, pealed off one note and gave it to Otis.
"One more sir! One more! " said Otis gleefully.
It was met with a shake of the head by the donor. Otis left ... pausing at the doorway to do a little boogie dance. Probably a celebratory victory dance ...one's daily living expenses met already ...and it's not even midday yet!

Good on you Otis. Wish I'd shaken your hand.

David Stoeckel.
Saturday 21st April.