Dignity & Understanding

A stack of newspapers, a sliver of each front page's colored photo is visible in the stack.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

My social worker from Bread for the City helped me get housing at St. John’s. She was 22 years old at the time, strong and kind. She also has her own challenges, like me and all of us. One of them was apparent: being a dwarf. But she managed my issues very well. She changed my life and I think about her every day.  

She took me to eat several times and did so many other things for me I can’t remember them all. She drove me to the apartment from St. Elizabeths. I’ve been in that apartment for 19 years.  

While selling my papers recently, I got into an argument with a woman. As I was happily dancing in my chair, a stranger, whom I’ve seen but whose name I don’t know interrupted me by askingWhat did you say?  

I told her firmly to leave me alone. She then called a security person from the nearby Giant Food store. He came out, determined she was the aggressor, and said she should leave me alone. 

I don’t know why some people look at me in a humiliating way all the time. I try to be friendly and happy when I sell papers. I try not to pay attention to the negative people because I don’t want to lash out. I’ve been abused in my life and I don’t want to be that way with anyone. 

Trying times like this make me remember my social worker all the more. I am grateful for her help and the respect and kindness she always showed to me. 


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