Don’t give up
“Good morning sir,” a man called out to me as I came into work this morning.
“Good morning,” I replied.
“Good morning sir,” he said again. His voice was frail, and an unkempt beard hid his dirty, wrinkled face in patches. His red jersey was dotted with holes and seemed little protection against the cold, crisp morning air.
“Good morning.”
“Oh. Good morning ma’am,” he corrected himself apologetically.
“That’s all right,” I smiled. “Good morning.”
He looked at me closely and brought his hand, shaking, close to my face. “Whatever you do,” he leaned in closely and I could see his yellow teeth between the gaps in his mouth. “Whatever you do, don’t give up. Stay strong. Stay strong. And don’t ever lose your pride.”
I thanked him, and he wandered off, taking his own advice as I heard him start up the same conversation with the next passerby.