Even with the coughing, he managed a warm smile.

jojoJoe was enjoying a left over sandwich that someone gave him. The top of a newspaper dispenser was his dining table. Joe is a familiar face to the regulars that frequent a local deli in downtown. Some stopped to talk with him, and one person asked him “where have you been Joe? Haven’t seen you in a while.” With a hoarse voice and coughing he said; “I just got out of the hospital for my asthma” then he said reassuringly “don’t worry, I’ll be okay though.” Even with the coughing, he managed a warm smile. He greeted almost everyone that walked by, giving them compliments or well wishes. Some people walked by, with a puzzled look, not knowing how to respond. Joe told me “most people are good, but if they ain’t, then well, we gotta make them good.”

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