The simplest thing

Every week, i take dance classes at Fisher Dance Center in Wilmette. During our breaks, my friends and i go down to the Treasure Island grocery store which is right down the street. There is always a man sitting outside in an electric chair selling magazines. Every week we pass him, but we've never stopped to talk to him, or buy a magazine. This week, however, we decided to stop and buy a magazine. We stopped and asked how much they were, and ended up staying and talking to him for the next hour. He told us his name, and basically his whole life story. It was so interesting, and also really sad to hear all the things hes been through. He's really a remarkable person. Towards the end of the conversation, he told us that he knew we were only buying a magazine from him to help him out, and how that meant so much to him. Most people dont even acknowledge his presence, and just walk in and out of the store, completely ignoring him. I wondered how it would feel to sit outside alone all day, every day, and have most people completely ignore you. I could tell by the eager way he talked to us that he really didnt have much human contact, and it meant so much to him that we had that short conversation with him. I really hope we can continue to talk to him each week, and i really hope that more people will start to talk to him. He is such a great person, and i hate to think of him being so lonely all the time. I know that even the simplest thing would mean a lot to him.