Queueing up at the
store
the old man shuffled
behind
in torn, ragged clothes
his hair unkempt,
smelling of wet dog –
the other customers
stepped back
he was counting his
change
a handful of battered
coins
his wrinkles sagged
like his shoulders
he had stared at sun
and rain
with an unflinching
face
his hands had seen
winters
many winters
he was buying those
soggy baguettes
the kind of which
gotten
at the bargain section
a can of the cheapest
tuna,
two cans of a good
brand
of dog food
a tomato, two bananas,
and a couple apples
his hair showed signs
of combing
those from a hand once
firm
those which lack a
mirror
then he muttered to
himself
clenched his fistful of
cents
left the queue in a
hurry –
the people moved like
an ebbing wave
the picture of him
feeding his dog
better than he fed
himself
of him trying to keep
himself
and his clothes
neat
oblivious of his dog's
smell
I moved the checkout
divider
told the cashier I'd
pay for his items
when he came back he
didn't notice
he had picked a third
can
when the cashier didn't
stop
he extended his hand
she told him – she
repeated
he didn't seem to
understand
he looked at me
he opened his mouth
twice
he had no words
I nodded
he nodded
his food in his
crumpled bag
he moved to go out
twice he turned back
I didn't look
too busy daring glares
at the judging crowd
behind
when I got outside
I saw him near the door
his dog was happy to
see him
nuzzling in his armpit
whimpering
patches of skin showing
through the shaggy fur
something broke inside
perhaps his dog thought
he'd been abandoned
again
perhaps the man had
forgotten
the impulse of charity
he held his dog's head
for the longest time
maybe that was their
happiness
showing through the
rents
their way of greeting
an unexpected stroke of
luck
come dinner they would
eat
out of their tin cans
smile, nod at one
another
pick their teeth clean
he would tell his dogs
stories of the old days
and they would fall
asleep
content, reassured
him patting his dog
happy he could get
the food he likes
come morning he would
try his best again
to look as decent as he
could
comb his hair,
fasten his belt,
get enough food
to bring them both
safe and fed
till the next morning
he was
without a doubt
the better man
