I don't think I ever talked to her but did with her friend two springs ago as the two of them were there together. That sucks.
Wanted to share a short story, very similar to something that happened to me in East LA a few months ago. Today I left work at 2 pm. I drove south and got fed up with the ridiculous traffic and pulled off of the 10 to chill out over a snack. As I pulled into the parking lot, there were three teens, one girl and two guys with backpacks. They approached me and wanted to know if there are any local options to sleep aside from homeless shelters due to the theft and drugs. I took about 15 minutes to listen to their story. All three were basically living on the street for different reasons. The girl was sleeping under an overpass when they found her. She came from an abusive environment. The guys were not much better off but had good relations with their family, a few states away. Two 19 year olds and a 22 year old, who appeared to be looking after the other two. Anyhow, I have way more Hilton points than I care to use so put them up near West Covina until mid December. I actually confirmed with the younger guy's parents that they will take all of them in at that time, but didn't have yet enough money to fly them back to Utah. Wanted to make sure they have a longer term solution so insisted on talking with their family. Also, when they stepped inside my vehicle, they insisted on putting all their bags in the back to convince me they didn't have weapons or alternate motives. Sometimes I have been blamed for being naive about my safety so that didn't even cross my mind.
Was about to leave them but then asked when was the last time they ate a proper meal. They said they didn't eat since Sunday. So off to one of my favorite hibachi places we go. I have never seen anyone devour food so fast, they were really hungry and silent. On the way back, stopped by Walmart and told them to stock up on food as the hotel has a mini fridge and microwave. They were very low key. Insisted on only getting just some dry goods. Had to force them to pick up fruit, frozen dinners, soup and something of substance. I haven't stepped inside a Walmart in over a decade so had to swallow my content against that company :-) On the way back to the hotel, one of them asked me if I was a religious person as that's the one things that has kept them going over the last few weeks. I'm not, at all. That was the only awkward moment as I didn't know how to respond.
Tomorrow night we're having turkey dinner at my friend's place. Hard to believe his two dogs lead a more luxurious lifestyle than those kids, knowing that, at least in the case of the girl, they will not be beaten or something else. Yes life is unfair sometimes. I agree though, need to live each day like it's your last.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2013 08:29PM by mohave.