'Cathleen' by Ravyn LaRue

I met her in a Starbucks
She was obviously homeless
She counted her pennies on the table we shared, just as I did earlier to make sure I had enough for a coffee
Her goal is to have a hotel tonight, she said she made 48 dollars
"Twelve more", she said, "And I can get a hotel room tonight."
I told her the truth, that I didn't have twelve dollars and she said, "Oh I wasn't asking you- people are generous tonight!"
I nodded and she asked me my name, so I told her.
She told me her son is a tutor and asked me if I go to school; I told her that and my ambitions and she said,
"Good get 'em while they're young!" and "I hope you graduate and do well!"
She said she never panhandles during the day since she doesn't want to embarrass her son
She said it so matter-of-factly, as if it weren't even sad, though it is.
She said, "He's smart, very smart." took a breath and said, "I'll let you get back to your studies, dear."
She began texting on a phone a million times nicer than mine.
My parents would berate her.
She says, "I'm texting my other son, he's in Minnesota with his foster parents, and the other is in California; they're all honor students, so I got it great!"
I tell her I'm from Minnesota and she smiles.
We both go back to our tasks.
I like this kindredness.
She says, "My phone's charged, so I have to go."
She begins to get up and adds,
"You know I saw a girl earlier, she gave me $3 and said that I don't look homeless, I asked, "What does homeless look like?" and she said, "Dirty and pissy..." and I told her that I know there's all sorts of shelters that give you showers. And I'm not going to get scabies or lice just so more people give me money."
I told her that was smart.
She shook my hand again, wished me luck on my term paper and left.
Another homeless person scampered for her spot, but I drove him away somehow.