Breakthrough? (Part 2)
I approached Mark. He was sitting on his sidewalk and reading. Near him, a younger homeless man I didn't recognize was sorting through his gear on the ground and in the (former baby) cart hitched to his bicycle. Also arrayed around him were four leaf bags full of cans. How he was going to transport all this accumulation anywhere was unimaginable to me. Nonetheless, he would figure out a way and his feat would go unrecorded as some kind of unbeatable Oregon record for the homeless.
It was a hot Saturday afternoon. I walked up to Mark and asked how he was doing. He closed yet another volume of the Dune Chronicles and said, “not well.”
The can machine was unavailable because there was no employee at the grocery store to staff it. What that meant was that most of the homeless of Sellwood would be hard up for cash. Mark said he had four dollars left.
It was time to go there again. Follow up!
You remember what we talked about a while back? Maybe getting you into one of the sleeping pod villages?
Yes.
I did some research and emailed the organization. I can't get you on a list. I have to call 2-1-1 and they send a response team to evaluate you, basically an interview, I assume. How it really works I have no idea. You don't want me to call them, do you?
I was sure Mark wouldn't want that.
I don't know. Maybe.
I was truly surprised at this.
Well, I can do it whenever you're ready and I'll be here when they show up. Maybe it's time, Mark. You could sleep there and have your shit secure. You're always telling me it gets ripped off.
It always is. I'm tired of it.
The homeless man asked me I had a smoke. I said no.
Matt, I don't know. I don't want to stop drinking.
I don't think you have to. They probably don't allow drinking in the village, but you could certainly do it elsewhere. They're not going to drug test for alcohol. There's no Nurse Ratched there to give you a lobotomy!
Mark laughed.
A silence ensued.
When you're ready, let me know Mark. I'm always around. Think it over.
Okay.
I told Mark I had started rereading Ken Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion. Had he ever read it? No.
I was somewhat shocked to hear this because of Mark's passion for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I gave him a quick plot summary (an Oregon Coast logging family up against the world) and said I would get him a copy if he so desired.
Mark said he'd love to read Sometimes a Great Notion.
I was overjoyed! I relished the opportunity to discuss this incredible Oregon novel with him.