The Man on The Corner

I had probably passed him on the street corner a hundred times before, but today was different, like I was seeing him for the first time. I was snowing and cold, the first really cold day of the year. There he was, sitting on the corner playing his guitar as usual, hoping to earn a little money. He was wearing nothing but a ragged tee shirt and jeans. People were walking past him, not making eye contact, not bothering to notice how cold he must be. As I got closer to him I noticed the smile on his face. He was playing a guitar in the freezing cold as everyone rushed passed him not even bothering to notice and he seemed happy. As he finished the song he was playing I dropped a twenty in his open guitar case and then walked into the coffee shop on the corner and bought two coffees. He seemed surprised when I walked up to him holding out one of the cups of coffee for him to take, but he took it gratefully. In that moment two strangers became friends, we made each other’s life a little better. Maybe sometimes a  friend is all anyone needs.