The Homeless Man’s Watch

July 4, 2007

Still jetlagged, I was up for a lot of the night.  At 5:30 am I wanted to make the most of it.  If I couldn’t have a comfortable sleep, at least I would have a refreshing morning.  I decided to walk to the park.

I walked a couple blocks away enjoying the breeze, the rising sun and the lack of traffic on the roads.  I jumped on the path at the park and strolled.  Soon after I came across a park bench under a tree.  I’ve had a few short conversations and plenty of friendly “Hellos” at that bench the many times I’ve jogged around the park.  This time, a guy in a hat and a windbreaker sat there. I said ‘mornin’ to him.  He said “Whadaya Know?”

“Not much I think” I replied truthfully.

I slowed and paused for a moment.  He asked me “You don’t happen to know the time do you?”  From that and from looking at him, half empty 2 liter soda bottle by his side, I bet that he’d been there all night. He wasn’t out for a morning stroll like I was.  He might have just woke up from somewhere nearby.

I told him I wasn’t sure but it must have been close to six.  I didn’t have my watch or anything with me. He said thanks and I walked off.  For the next 10 meters I thought about how it could have been to sleep in the park all night.  Last night was mild, most nights aren’t. My neighbors and I talk about riff raff all the time, but that wasn’t this guy.  He was friendly for no reason.  I could make all kinds of assumptions, but what came to mind were these two watches I brought back home from Japan with me.  My father-in-law got these free Mercedes Benz watches for buying from the dealership.  They sat in his house for a while in the boxes brand new.  While we were visiting, he cleaned up a few things and asked if we wanted them.

I originally envisioned selling them in a classified ad, maybe making a few bucks off them, if it wasn’t too much of a hassle to carry or ship them home.

I smiled big.  I instantly imagined solving at least the one problem I knew for sure that guy had. He didn’t know what time it was.  I killed off the rest of my walk and went back home.  I dug up the watches from my father in law.  One of the watches was large and begging to be stolen.  The other watch, much more conservative, brown.  It would blend in, not stand out.  This one I knew was his watch.  I grabbed my keys and got in the car and drove back up to the park.  I went past the bench in the car before the park entrance. He was gone!

Pulling into the parking lot, I glimpsed his silhouette over at the barbecue pavillion with some other guy. His friend? If it was another homeless man, how could I give one of them the watch and nothing to the other?  As I started walking towards the pavillion, I could hear that the other guy was yelling at my guy. He was telling him to get the hell out of there.  “Don’t make me say it again!” he shouted repeatedly as he bit into some kind of breakfast sandwich.  Why was he mad at him?

My guy walked back towards me and as he passed, he looked at me and say “some people!”  I noticed that he had scrounged up an unfinished cigarette on the ground which he had relit for himself.  I didn’t know what to say to him. I was worried that the other guy would come over and hurt one of us.  So I let him go.  I pretended to be on a walk trying to avoid a glance from the pavillion sandwich guy. My confidence in the situation had sank a little.

I watched my guy cross the street. He was going to the FastStop gas station and checking out little piles of trash on the way in the parking lot.  He went in the store.  I walked in after him.  I pretended to browse the coffee dispenser.  I wasn’t sure what he might have been buying.  I made a little small talk with a clerk and walked out.  I waited for my guy.

When he came out, he had a tall can of beer in a paper bag.  Was that why he wanted to know the time? What time do they start selling beer in the morning? I asked him why that guy yelled at him. His story was kind of incoherent, but he made it seem like he knew that guy and later when that guy “smokes some water” he’ll come back and be friendly again.  Smokes some water?

I talked with him for a little bit.  I said to him, “remember you asked me what time it was?” And I handed him the watch.  He looked at it and started to cry a little.  I think he was happy.  I told him, “Hey don’t worry about it.  I got two of these and I just want you to have it, it’s no big deal.”

He was happy because he said he can tell what time he needs to be somewhere for an appointment. Usually he has no idea, and he’s just waiting around.  He went on to tell me that he didn’t have an ID and that he was wanting to get a bank account.  He showed me his nails because he works really hard doing odd gardening jobs.  I could only imagine it.  It was not the kind of life he wanted, but that’s what he had.  He had other stories to tell. Some I couldn’t understand fully.  But the kinds of little stories to tell me what kind of a guy he was.  I was happy to listen.  And he said it really helps him to talk to people.  We shook hands.

Why am I writing about this?  Shouldn’t I keep it inside? Have I gained bragging rights from my wonderfully good deed?  Not at all.  I am writing it because I want you to know that you should indulge  your ideas.  You should help people because in many ways, we are all locked on an island together. If only we can eliminate some suffering.

Frank has my watch.  His name is Frank. And I gather that for all intents and purposes, he’s a good man.  I hope I can see him again.  I hope that he doesn’t have to sell the watch, and it helps him for a while.  But if he sells it, that’s ok too.  I worry somebody will steal it from him.  I worry he will suffer because of the watch somehow. Some people need a little guidance, a place to clean up, or to know what time it is. A watch can help you make better decisions.  Better decisions can make a better life.

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