Puss and Boots
Being a Native New Yorker, I have definitely seen my share of homeless people. It is hard to witness, but unfortunately, we do all get used to it. We basically walk right over homeless people, without thinking. But, once in a while, we do give - and once in a while, we notice someone. We are affected by a face, a story, or in my case, someone with a cat. (I admit, I tend to give money to homeless people more often if they have a helpless animal with them.)
A few years back, during the dead of Winter, every day on my lunch break, I would pass by this young woman, with her little orange and white kitty, just sittin’ on the sidewalk. It broke my heart. I started bringing her cat food. The woman could have been me, you, anyone just having a bad year. We became friendly and I would chat with her here and there, getting to know how she went from having a home, to sitting on 5th Ave., freezing.
Around Christmas, I had bought myself a new pair of boots and on that same day, I brought the woman my old pair. Her face lit up. She was so happy. It made me happy to be able to do that. It’s just the little gestures. After a while, I stopped seeing her and her cat. I wonder what happened. I hope she’s ok.
- Jenny Rubin
