Short Story from San Juan

“Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?

It was a Tuesday night, in San Juan Puerto Rico. My wife and I were walking back to our hotel one last time before our morning departure. We had just spent four wonderful days celebrating our second wedding anniversary. My feet were tired and I am sure her’s were as well. Although we had a car, I believe the hiking in the rainforest the previous day, had taken its toll on both of us. As we walked passed the local CVS pharmacy, there he sat. A man. A name I will never know. There he sat with a cup in his hand asking for some change. I didn’t have any change on me, nor did my wife. But we did have some cash. But my wife wisely did not pull that out in public. We were still tourist’s visiting “Old San Juan.” So we both motion our heads in the affirmed “no” and continued our walk to our hotel room. As we continued we passed a local bar just a block away from our room. We had visited there several nights and had created a great friendship with the owner. It wasn’t just a friendship on me buying a drink or two. But it,  like all the relationships I formed in Puerto Rico, was a genuine understanding of each other. Respect for each other's humanity. I remember telling Rodriguez the night before that I would bring him back copies of my books. So as we passed I waved and shouted I would be back. Once we reached the room I quickly gather the books together so I could run around the corner quickly and get back to my wife. It was our last night in “Old San Juan.’ and the whole purpose of the trip was our anniversary and not book sales. So knowing I had been pushing the limits advertising my books, I wanted to get this done as quickly as possible. In my hurry, I never notice my wife was going through her belongings gathering up any coins she could find and putting it in her hand. I thought maybe she was just getting settled and doing last-minute packing, never realizing she had another mission, or should I say an additional errand for me. 

So as I am leaving she says, “TAKE THIS CHANGE BACK TO THE MAN ON THE CORNER” I quickly replied, “I AIN'T WALKING THAT FAR, I'M JUST GOING AROUND THE CORNER TO GIVE RODRIGUEZ THE BOOKS, I WILL BE RIGHT BACK.” 

I don't know what made me respond in the answer to her request. It could have been my actions of the previous two mornings of giving out coins to two other gentlemen while going to the Safemax on my own. Maybe I felt like I had done enough already. Maybe the reality that my feet were tired, and I did not feel like walking that far. Or maybe like Peter, when tested my faith, failed me. Whatever the reason over the last 72 hours I can’t get the man on the corner off my mine. 

Yesterday after our return home. My wife and I had an appointment at the local courthouse to get some permits passed. As we arrived downtown, my wife said. “ you can find a parking meter because I still have the change I was gonna give to the man on the corner. As I put the coins into the parking meter I begin to feel guilty for not going back to the corner as my wife wanted me to do. Old folks use to say angels come in disguise to test our sincerity. The image of his frailed body still clouds my mind. Knowing the storm was coming as we left, I pray he had shelter for the night. You know you can never reverse time. So I guess the lesson here is, when you second self tells you to go to the corner, you need to listen. My minister once told me that we as men can pray to God, and received his spirit and grace But the WOMEN he said, “She has a direct link to God, due to her ability to carry in her womb, that which is born in his image and likeness. Thanks, second self for a lesson learned.