Tom plunged his hands into the pockets of his overcoat. The boy on skates
frightened him.  Last evening, a gang on skates beat him and stole his three
dollars.  They were angry because he had so little.
         His coat hung to his ankles.  The only coat they had at the Salvation Army,
he was grateful to have it. It would keep him warm sleeping on the park bench.
         A woman was feeding the squirrels.  She smiled. He felt embarrassed. He
looked like a bum.   Street people looked like bums to him until two month ago.
         The company he worked for went bankrupt. His apartment house burned. 
Boys robbed him of his last cent.
         The woman scattered peanuts for the squirrel.  He was hungry and wished
he had a handful of those nuts.
         "Sir," she called. "I saw those boys rob you last night. I see you sleeping in the
park at night."
         "Yes, I have joined the ranks of the homeless." Why was he ashamed? It
was not his fault.
         " Could I hire you to rake the leaves around my property?" She pointed to a
house across the street from the park.
         "Yes Mam, I could sure use the work."
         "My son made an efficiency apartment in the garage.  Would you like to sleep
there? I fear those boys will come back and harm you."
          Tom looked at her in amazement.
          She handed him the bag of peanuts. "Come."
          He followed her across the street and into the apartment. Was he was
dreaming?
          "Why are you helping me?" He hardly believed what had happened.
          "I watched those boys beating you and could do noting.  If I called the
police the boys would be gone and they would make you leave the park. I know 
what it is like to be homeless and broke.  "Someone helped me and
it is my turn to help someone else."
           In an instant, the winds of fate had changed. . He had a home, he would
find a job, and he would soon be on his feet.  He walked the miles in the shoes
of a street person.  Someday, he would help someone else.
           She pointed to the leaves covering the ground. "Rake them in the morning."
           He watched her go into her house and shut the door. She had not even
told him her name.