Shelter

I sat in my car across the street from the women’s shelter. Women waited, bundles of clothes blocked the sidewalk, cops stood around, all strangely normal. Years ago, I’d volunteered at the shelter … it was a vision of hell … loud, cluttered and utterly dispiriting. A woman with a lanyard I.D. yelled across at me: “No need you settin’ there. Best you move on!” She figured I was looking for drugs, or maybe selling. I crossed the street. I said my name and we talked. I learned some things and told her I’d be back to help. She said “OK.”