It was early afternoon, Cherry was sitting up against a wall next to the Catholic Church on Kalakaua. Her blanket was stained and her clothes were dirty. She smelled of beer and sweat, her teeth were chipped and yellow, her matted hair looked as if it hadn't been washed in weeks, mud was caked under her fingernails. I handed her some chocolate and told her Happy Valentine's Day. She was very appreciative and started to talk so I sat down and listened.
Her entire life, I'd guess she was in her late 30's, has been in Hawaii. Most has been spent on the other side of the island. Much of what she was talking about didn't make sense. She talked about people she knew as if I knew them too. She told me how she was homeless because she could not stay in any homes because the people didn't believe in Jesus and they used God's name in bad ways. Jesus would not like if she stayed with people like that. Even church people's beliefs were suspect. She knew God loved her.
She asked my name as I got up to leave.
"Debbie, Debbie, Debbie, thank you so much. Debbie, Debbie..." I smiled, turned and walked away to the echo of my name being repeated over and over and over.
This would be closer to my expectations, sadly. Even worse, some parts of it are vaguely reminiscent of Corey's reasons he hasn't been able to stay in one place/job or another (not religious, but similarly difficult to comprehend).
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