Mere Minutes: Angry Woman Shouts at Real Change Vendor

The story you are about to read happened in a mere ten minutes...

Joseph came to my desk at noon today with a sparkle in his eye. He wanted something, and I knew before he said anything that I'd acquiesce.

'We're going to lunch tomorrow, right?'

'Yep' I replied.

'Well, then why don't you treat me to lunch today?' The grin widened.

I looked away for a moment and then back at him. 'Okay, let's go.'

Down we went through the bowels of the Darth Vader building and out through the front doors. Our destination, Subway on the corner of 3rd and Blanchard. We walked along the sidewalk against traffic on 4th when we came upon a woman - and someone who seemed to be a caretaker of some kind - selling Real Change.

TANGENT: On nearly every street corner in Seattle stands or sits a person selling a newspaper called Real Change. But The Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project is about more than just a newspaper. In the organization's own words, 'Real Change exists to create opportunity and a voice for low-income people while taking action to end homelessness and poverty.' (http://www.realchangenews.org/). The paper acts as just one facet for this empowerment. Vendors - commonly the homeless themselves - must pay $0.35 for each paper which they then sell for $1.00 (technically a donation). Though only a small amount, the act of selling gives the vendors a sense of responsibility and pride in the ability to earn the money rather than beg for handouts. TANGENT CONCLUDED

So, these women sitting on the corner of 4th and Blanchard asked us as we passed, 'Would you like to buy Real Change'? I smiled and said no. I don't carry money. Joseph, however, stopped and searched his jangling pockets from which his hand emerged with four quarters. He put them in the woman's hands and took from her a paper.

At that instant, there came from across the street - in front of Ralph's Grocery - something resembling a cross between a squeal and a hiss. Standing on the opposite corner was another homeless woman complaining in full voice about the purchase that Joseph had made.

From behind us, the other woman yelled 'You know this's our corner. You go away. I'm sellin' here.'

The other woman answered with some incoherent reply but made no move to cross the street.

Joseph and I exchanged glances wondering what had just happened. And then we promptly moved on to another subject as we headed towards Subway.

I suppose I should not have been surprised by that interchange between the two women since both are trying to earn their keep. I'd just never thought of Real Change vendors as being in competition.

That all happened in a mere ten minutes...