Nicollet

I had to do an unexpected run to the Target store downtown. It's about two blocks away from my work. I cruised through the skyway and got slightly nauseated by the food smells. The skyways are a bit humid in this weather. When the skyways are warm, i know it's definitely warm outside.

On the way back i decided to walk outside. It's a nice quick way to get some fresh air and wake myself up before sitting myself down in my drab cubicle. I took the escalator down to Target's lobby. I was slightly surprised there weren't the usual gaggle of people sitting on the window ledges. Then i remembered, it is warm outside!

I wheel myself through the revolving door and wham! i'm outside in some seriously nice weather. I step to the curb. I watch as a man on the cellphone hugs a blind man around the shoulders to help him across the street. I assumed the cellphone-guy knew the blind man. They both make it across the street, up the curb, across the short sidewalk, and to the very same revolving door i walked through.

Now, i am not one to watch or stare. However, I couldn't help but glance back to check on the progress of the blind man and the cellphone-guy. The cellphone-guy carefully guided the man into the revolving door. Then i looked back at the street. Then i looked back again, the cellphone-guy was still standing outside talking on his phone... The blind man had made it through the door and was just standing there. That's where i got confused on whether or not the cellphone-guy knew the blind man.

I crossed the street. I hear singing. I look to my right, and standing next to a cement planter is the first "beggar". He is staring at a sheet of paper. He is testing his voice quietly as if he is attempting to read his "music". The singing is not coming from him. His metal bucket carefully set out with half of it filled with change. The metal bucket has a sign, but i couldn't read it. Too close to the ground.

I chug along, name badge flapping in the wind, bag banging against my leg. The singing continues and gets louder. The second "beggar" is sitting on a planter. Beautiful voice echoing off the buildings, "This little light of mine!" slapping his knee in time. A woman sits next to him nodding her head in time. He has a bucket too. It has a sign, but i can't read it. I'm moving too fast.

I'm halfway down the block, and glancing down, a man is sitting next to the bus shelter. He is short, and has one lonely tooth showing. I think that was his last one. He has a cardboard sign he is holding. I can't read it. I looked the other direction well before i passed him.

Home stretch and i'm almost to my building's block. I see a clown. He is sitting on a cement planter. He is looking down. Has the white mouth painted in a frown. Red nose, derby hat, suit jacket, and dress pants. Very much like a hobo. He has a sign hanging around his neck. A pink sign that is laminated in clear tape. "LAID OFF!" was all i could read. The print was too small for me to read the rest.

I cross the street. Smell the familiar cigarette smoke of all the people "on break". I walk through the doors of my building. It's warm and humid. Up the escalator i go to the lobby of my building. All i can think about is, "what's for lunch?"...