A disabled man living on the streets shares his story.
Image (C) 2009, Karla Dorman.
Muh name's Mushmouth. Dey call me dat on 'count I speak funny. Have cer'bral palsy; it 'fected how I talk, move, or get 'round. I use crutches to walk an' wear braces on muh legs. I live on de s'reets; don't got no home.
I use' to live in a group home, but group home shut down, now I have nowheres to go, so I live on de s'reets, where I look for food or a place tuh sleep or stay.
I get mad at peoples 'cuz dey think I'm retarted. Dey think 'cause my body don't work good, den dey think I'm stupid, don't know nothin'. Well, I know lotsa things. I know how to count to 100 (forwards an' backwards), dress muhself, talk, read (children's books), an' make change (somewhat). I know how tuh order foods in a restrant an' ask for coffee.
I don't like livin' on de s'reets, specialy when it get cold outside. My cloths all holey an' worn; I 'bout freeze ta death; think I'm gonna end up dyin' and becomin' an angel. Not dat I mind, but I would like to be on dis earth a bit longer, ya know??
Prolly the worstest thing 'bout livin' on da s'reets is not having anywheres to stay or sleep or havin' peoples make fun of me 'cause I don't gots the smarts. Hey, I can't help how I am; it's how God made me; it's how I was borned!
I have made many friends on da s'reets: Gracie-the-Bag-Lady, Q-Man, Rica, Shoeless Joe, Vet-Man, Charlie, SnaggleTooth Annie, many other peoples. We try to take care o' one 'nother; we each other's biggest suport systum. We also have peoples who come visit us every week: one of da bes' is dis teenager girl named Kendra; she a good egg, have good head on her soldiers. (Mushmouth meant "shoulders".)
Well, I gotta go; my belly is hungry; it talkin' big-time ta me. I gotta see if I can russle up some grubs so it can stop talkin' ta me. I will write in here agin soon; until later, this is Mushmouth sayin' so long an' may God treat ya good! :)
Wow! How sad, Karen, to meet a character such as Mushmouth and go through his day, and a days worth of his life. As always, you have a way of making me connect with your characters and stories.
Your friend in Southern Californai; Mark
For the reasons I describe in this book, the world-wide suffering, death and extinction of humanity is very likely to occur, unless nonviolent and democratically determined radical and revolutionary personal and societal actions and changes are taken
While Debtors prisons no longer exist, many people continue to be persecuted for crimes related to poverty or inability to repay money owed to municipalities. This practice remains in an injustice that needs to be rectified.
