After my several expeditions to the local Goodwill, I felt a sense of accomplishment from it all, as odd as it sounds. I don't think people should feel good about themselves when they successfully steal an entire business-like outfit from a store, but I didn't really have much to be proud of these days. Okay, well, enough with the wallowing in self-pity.

So once I got my ensemble together, I dug through a dumpster near a shopping center and found an old rusty pair of scissors to cut my hair. It was so matted by this point, that I knew even with a snazzy new suit, nothing would be able to hide the fact that I had been living outside for the past several months. Once I cut my hair, I used the water from the sink to mess it up a little and hide the unevenness of my new 'do'. I proceeded down the street feeling like a new man. I consciously held my head up high to give the illusion that I was completely sure of myself. As I walked into the cafe a couple blocks down from the dumpster I found the scissors in, I somehow felt that I could get the job if I was up front with them. I had no current address because I was, in fact, homeless. I would tell them about my struggles in the past. I would tell them just how passionate and enthused I was about having a job, even if it only promised 2 hours a week and paid minimum wage. I just needed some hope at this point. With my new plan in mind, I stopped at the counter and rang the little bell that summons a worker from the back. Almost immediately, the tall, slender woman from the park came out from the back of the store and greeted me. I lost all confidence thinking about how impossible it was for me to talk to her that day. What made me think I could do it now? She was radiant. Her dark hair was pulled back and she had flour on her hands and apron. "Forgive me," she said as she moved a piece of hair from her eyes, "I was baking more cookies when you rang, and I'm a mess." She laughed at herself and put her hand on her forehead, causing a white, powdery handprint to be left there for the rest of the afternoon. I tried to talk, but I couldn't. I just looked at the floor and mumbled, "It's okay," which I followed with a nervous laugh. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER was all I could think to myself. I thought of my mother encouraging me to do things and how much she would believe in me. "What would you like?", said the lady with striking blue eyes. "I-uh...I'm.." I paused and took a deep breath and cleared my throat. "I'm Bandy...I'm here to apply for any openings you might have." She looked at me for a moment and squinted her eyes. "Do I know you?" she asked curiously. "Yes", I answered almost too suddenly. I began to think about whether or not I should tell her I was the homeless man from the park. That was my plan as I first entered, but that's no good now. It all changed as soon as I saw her. I continued with saying "of course you do! I'm your newest employee!" I couldn't tell, at this point, whether I was trying harder to convince her or myself that I had potential, but it worked. She smiled, threw her head back in laughter, and threw me an apron. "Well, lets get started", she said as she lead me to the kitchen, "By the way, my name is Yolanda".