One Legged Cowboy and the Rat

11:55 pm and the Nightwatch Shelter Dispatch Center was empty. Three of us had made the rounds, delivering socks, blankets, and conversation along the way.

Our security guy, Theo, said "There's one more guy in the bathroom, changing his bandages."

Great.

A minute later the One Legged Cowboy comes out of the bathroom. Worker Gwen gives him a shelter placement ticket and explains where to catch the bus to the Millionair Club, a local charity that gives space up for 75 homeless guys from Nightwatch. He's never been homeless before this.

{{sigh}} What can you do?

"Want a ride?" Silly question.

He hops into my beat-up Subaru. "How'd you lose you leg, if you don't mind me asking."

"Bull-riding."

No kidding. Apparently bull-riding is dangerous. His leg was crushed beyond repair. We had a nice conversation. Wonder if he'll call me sometime.

Not every night do you help a one-legged cowboy. And not every night do you run over a rat. Yeah. That happened too. The cowboy was pretty impressed. The rat was caught in the middle of the intersection, froze in my headlights, and a slight swerve was successful, in terms of pest control at least.

This morning the crows are happy, and the one-legged cowboy is hopeful.