Jesse, The Homeless Saint of East Colfax

    
Jesse is an old homeless man who comes to the store I work at almost everyday for matches. I've liked Jesse since the moment I met him.

Katie, my manager told me that Jesse, a homeless alcoholic who walks here wearing his only pair of jeans and boots that may well be as old as myself with soles that flap and gets a book of matches to light the cigarette butts he picks up wherever he finds them comes in every day when we have our annual month long fundraiser for childrens hospial care and donates most of his money to the kids.


She also told me about abother regular who commutes from cherry creek in the brand new Lexus he bought last week, and buys two cases of imported cigarettes, one for him the other for his wife, every week and picks up a box of hand rolled cigars we order for him specially once a month, has not once in the 3 years shes known him, donated a cent.

He doesnt see me so I yell "Oi Jesse" above the sound of traffic, he looks up and recognizes me, he smiles a sincerely genuine smile as he returns my greeting. "How ya doin tonight Jesse?"

"Not to bad my friend, not to bad" he says. "matter of fact, I'm doin pretty damn good today son, I found a brand new pack of cigarettes on the sidewalk this morning and then when I asked this lady that manages the village in up the road if she would maybe let me have some of the food people throw away, she tells me  to come in once a day and I can order anything I want and shell put it down as her free meal."

Finding a pack of cigarettes and the promise of eating something that hasnt already been partially eaten by someone else are enough to make Jesse as happy as a man whos just won the lottery.

Im touched by his appreciation and gratitude, and I decide to do something for Jesse, because he deserves it.

My bus is close, so I ask Jesse "you wanna meet me at the hanger bar for a drink tomorrow?, its on me"
Jesse readily agrees.