STUDENT LOAN DEBTOR

The intersection of Ashland and Armitage, Chicago

Morning

 

Most people kept to themselves today. A couple of people laughed at me. I got money from two people. One dark-haired guy in his 20's, driving a silver sporty-looking car (Eagle Talon? Some kind of Hyundai?) called to me. "Student loan?," he asked. I nodded. He was wearing glasses, and his boyish face was unshaven. He offered his closed fist. I walked over to him, removed my glove, accepted his money, thanked him, and walked back to the median. He had given me six nickels.

Later, a cab driver got my attention with a honk of his horn. He was a husky, dark-skinned African man in a blue and white cab. When he honked his horn, I looked over and saw him looking at me through a rolled-up window. I turned my sign for him to see. He nodded at me. I nodded at him. Since his window remained rolled up, I was a little unsure of what to do. Then he nodded again. I walked over to him. He rolled his window down, and handed me a dollar. He didn't say anything. He maintained a slight squint during the exchange. I thanked him and returned to the median.

 

 

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