A homeless guy fed us

Here's an unlikely story. Steve and I went for a long long walk in Stanley Park last Sunday. We ended going around the sea wall, through the park, out by the lost lagoon and the Heron's colony, and back through St-Paul's towards Yaletown. If this means nothing to you, it's enough to say that it was a 4 hour walk and by the time were were heading home it was 7:30pm.

We were starving and as we walked a short stretch near Davie we could smell the food. Neither of us had any cash or means to get cash. We talked about how crazy it was to be surrounded by food but have no way to access it. We talked about begging. We talked about what it must feel like to be homeless and penniless. We talked about the Vancouver Street Retreat that is being planned. All the while just aching to get home and eat.

Just as we were crossing the last park before getting to our building we run into a homeless guy that Steve had talked to before (Danny). Danny says hello and starts talking to us. We talk for a bit but then tell him that we're very hungry and need to get home. He says "Oh I have food...here! Take this!" and hands us an untouched large portion of chicken fried rice. We feel bad about taking his food but he assures us that he has had 4 pieces of pizza and he's not hungry. Steve heartily digs in.

We keep talking for a bit and we can tell Danny is getting a little anxious. He wants money. It's not clear why but the discussion touches on marijuana...and later beer. Hearing no judgement from us he suddenly admits that he is a 'user' and that he's been lying about the other drugs. He is needing his fix. He needs $10 ("that's how much it costs?" I'm incredulous). But of course we have no money on us. But we're across the street from our apartment...we have money there...he's given us food..and all he wants is a fix. Ok, all morality aside, seems like $10 will make him very happy. I promise to return with $10.

I return a few minutes later with $20 and I give it to him. He then admits that the story about the 4 pieces of pizza is a lie. This is crazy! "Why didn't you eat the food?" He says that the heroine makes him not hungry. I can't tell if this is the complete truth or if he was planning on selling the food the whole time? Or? In any case, he is smiling and telling me he's "going right now" to get a fix at the safe injection site. Just before he leaves he tells me that I shouldn't kid myself, all panhandlers are users.

With all this reading about narrative and fiction and non-fiction and possible world theory, the stories Danny tells are such a mix that they are an invitation to ride uncertain ground without insisting on a truth break.