Dreams of Mangoes

I am sorry I got frustrated by you before I even met you.

I apologize.

Thursday, September 5^th.  Having a busy day – filling up the pantry first thing in the morning and while on short breaks from work – but I can’t seem to keep up.  Like, every time I fill it, as soon as I come back inside, I see another pair of legs and feet in front of the open pantry (legs and feet are all we can see from inside the house).

So, when I filled the pantry and someone came to get food immediately after I came back inside, then when YOU came not 2 minutes after that, I was a bit frustrated.

I am sorry.

But instead of stewing, I took a deep breath and went outside into the sunshine. 

“Hello!” I said loudly as I crossed the yard to the pantry, so as to warn you that I was on the way and not startle you.

You were a stranger.  You looked gentle.  And the large bag on your back, coupled with the knit stocking cap on this warm autumn-ish day made me think, “Hmmm, I am guessing this person is unhoused.”

I asked if there was anything you didn’t see in the pantry that you needed.  You stared at me a bit blankly, so I gave some examples.  “You know, like canned meat, vegetables, fruit, drinks, meals you can just heat up…  Or toiletries,” I explained.

“Toiletries?  What do you mean by toiletries?” you asked genuinely.

“Oh, like toothpaste.  Or deodorant,” I told you.

You didn’t start giving me a list of what you would like.  Instead, you looked at me with gentle eyes and we stood a bit in silence (well, as silent as a busy corner can be with cars and buses whizzing by).

“I want to explain…” you started.  You didn’t sound embarrassed, but it felt like you needed to clarify.  “I don’t have FIRE yet.”

Fire. 

Ah, my suspicion of not having housing was correct.

“That’s ok!” I replied.  “Do you have access to a microwave?”

You shook your head no.  “I am not living on the street, but, you know, living…”.

“I understand, no problem at all,” I told you, hoping that you could sense that it really was not something I would judge you on.  “Would it be ok if I go inside and get a few things you might like?  I will bring them out and you can choose what you would like”.

You looked at me, very surprised and perhaps overwhelmed.  I smiled, told you to please wait 2 minutes and that I would return.

I rushed down to the pantry storage area and quickly looked for items that I thought would be good for you.  Canned meats.  Canned fruit.  Crackers.  Peanut butter.  Raisins.  Fruit cups.  Chapstick.  A can opener.  Drinks.  And I ran back outside, hoping you would still be there.

You were. 

“Here, I brought some things I thought you might like.  I will show them to you one by one.  Just say yes or no if you want them, I promise I won’t have my feelings hurt if you say no,” I explained before started the “show and tell”.

Can of chicken – yes.

Can of Spam – oh, you told me you hadn’t had Spam in a long time.  You debated it, but it went in the yes pile.

Can opener?

Ah, this is where you opened up.  This is where I got to know you.  Thank you.

You explained that you didn’t want the can opener.  You couldn’t quite put it into words, but I believe you were telling me that you don’t need excess.  You are a minimalist.  And later during our conversation you made such a brilliant point about how people get so attached to things that we miss the opportunities in front of us to interact with humans.  I so agree.

I think you wanted the interaction more than the food, really.  Sure, you took a few items, but honestly, not much.  When I showed you the small box of raisins, you asked if I knew anything that raisins were good for.  “Well, I think they might help you poop…” I said.  You grinned and put your hand out to accept the raisins.  (I hope I was right with that advice.  I am afraid to google it.  I might have had it backwards…  If they make you constipated, I apologize again…)

When I held up the Mint Girl Scout cookies you got that glimmer in your eye that so many of us do when we see the recognizable green box.  Only, you were not excited for you to have them, but rather, you knew a person who would really like those. 

“Take them to the person!” I encouraged.  “It can be a gift!!”.

You considered it, but declined.  You know, minimalist and all.  Plus, as you explained, “I don’t have any storage, no shelves”.  Yup – carrying your life in the big red pack.

You were concerned about me.  When you asked if other people came here for food, I said yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  You explained how some people who come here might have mental health issues – maybe PTSD.  You asked was I sure I wanted to have so many people around here?  I smiled.  “Yes, I am sure.  This pantry has been here for 3 ½ years.  I have met lots of people!  And yes, some people do have mental health issues.  That’s why I am careful to say ‘Hello!’ from waaaay over there,” I pointed, “So that I do not startle anyone.”

You want a job.  Are looking for work.  You told me about something you like to mention in job interviews:  I would like a job where they send me into outer space.

Ahhhh – outer space.  Peace.  Quiet.  Shining galaxies all around you.  Wrapped in infinity.

When I showed you the can of mangoes, you hesitated.  “Mangoes are delicious!” I encouraged. 

“Yes, I know.  I had mangoes recently.  But those would be a SPECIAL TREAT.”

 

Ahh, a “special treat”. 

I thought that meant that those were going in your red bag.  That you might sit down this evening, thinking of how you can build fire in this environment where you are having trouble finding wood to burn, and ponder life’s mysteries as you savored the fruit.

I was wrong.

The special treat would wait.  You didn’t take the mangoes. 

Maybe, like the human interaction vs. the food, the mangoes were not the real objective.

Maybe the IDEA of mangoes.  The DREAM of a special treat.

Maybe that is the goal.

May you have fire soon.  May the friend you seemed worried about reply to your email.  May you somehow fish your wish of going into orbit.

And may you dream of mangoes.

 

If you would like to support the Little Yellow Free Pantry, the Amazon wish list can be found here: Little Yellow Free Pantry Wish List .  Items most needed at the moment are canned fruit of any kind, peanut butter, and single serving packs of cereal.

If you live in the DC Metro and would like to drop things off, the wish list is a good indicator of what we can use.  Any brands are fine.  We cannot accept opened or expired items.  Please do not put anything directly in the pantry.  Instead, put it in the tan and green plastic bin on our front porch.  That system allows us to keep better track of what we have and to distribute it more evenly to guests.

Thank you.