3 bases a day

     Old man, Black Robert died today. He was 70 yrs old. In really poor health and made a living selling loose cigarettes. Actually, his living was SSI, a $761. monthly check and $200. in food stamps. His rent was paid by HUD. His end was just over $100. He sold cigarettes to support his Lottery and scratch off tickets.
     Every now and then he'd win a few bucks but it never added up. He was always trying for the big one. It just never seemed to come.He lived nin his very humble abode for 35 years. He had just gotten out of prison and vowed it was his last time. With the exception of a few skid bids, mostly tickets that they run you thru the system for. The bullshit that gets cops there over time. He stayed free.
      As a young man he was dirt poor and not handsome so he developed a relationship with heroin.It was his everything. Not too smart or lucky he spent his time in and out of jail. Between being dope sick and homeless e finally got on the Methadone program back in 69 and thats all she wrote.
     When I say 3 bases I mean that he went from his apartment to the program to the front of his building. That was his life. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him. But truth be known, nobody knew him. For whatever reason he talked to me. He liked to call me doc.I think it was that I always treated him with respect., That and I'm a good listener.
     Rob was one of the few that I would loan money too. He liked to gamble on the scratch offs, and he really never bet over his head.
     People put out a bunch of candles.The Arab store owners were all unhappy. They had no way to collect the money he owed them. With their 3 wives and children all collecting from the Goverment they get away with stealing enough. So, to hell with them. Robert got the last laugh as he stepped off the last base.