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I am Vince.

This special edition of Speak Up is
Vince Shumate’s journey of
the past three months.

He generously and courageously exposed
his emails, journals, and letters to reveal an
unfinished story of hope, addiction,
and homelessness.

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Matt Shaw
Editor In ChiefSpeak Up is a Maria Valdivieso
Art Director

Editorial Team
Peggi Knowe, Myeka Johnson,voice for the Nate Casey, Alisha Pruett

Speak Up Magazine
501 Hawthorne Ln
Charlotte, NC 28204 voiceless.
Speak Up Magazine is a 501(c)3
non-profit and is supported by
donations of readers like you. Donate
The magazine is sold by vulnerably- at speakupmag.org.
housed street vendors who become SUBSCRIBE Get Speak Up in your mailbox every
micro-business owners, develop a month. speakupmag.org/subscribe
passion for inspired entrepreneurship FOR THIS ISSUE
and get back on their feet financially. Photos on Cover & p2:
Rebecca Kenyon
moteofdustfilms.com
__ Hugefor her Debtgenerousto Lindsayservice of Parkertyping
Vince’s handwritten letters.

Special Thanks to Peggi Knowe
Have you been on the streets? for editing words and photos so
capably and quickly.
Submit your stories. Language Warning
Get published. Get paid. Somefor children.content may not be appropriate
speakupmag.org/write Illustrations: Matt Shaw

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DAY 1 I wanted money, which I didn’t. I walked a block
August 11, 2016 down the street and borrowed a broom from a
I have to leave Jacksonville. Leaving today on the parking deck attendant. Went back and swept the
Greyhound bus. It will be an interesting start to place clean. Then Karma kissed me on the lips.
my venture to Asheville. Minutes later, I traded one of my ideas of “Karma
Spoken Here” for a t-shirt design to a shirt shop
DAY 2 owner. He gave me a 30 dollar Rolling Stones
Still on the bus. First stop and we pick up my shirt. It didn’t stop there. On my way back from
most dreaded thing to be stuck on a bus with. the Graffiti bridge where I always try to catch the
Dirty diapers. This time, not on a child but a right sunshine, a car pulled up beside me and
5-year-old. offered me a biscuit and fruit juice. We spoke for
Here comes the positive attitude. I’m smiling. about 15 minutes, and me not asking for even a
Beautiful sunrise. nickel, they handed me 41 dollars and two bags of
biscuits with juice.
DAY 15
Made it to Asheville. I’ve been to Paris, DAY 18
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, London, Brussels, Long I’m sorta’ stable now, but not clear headed enough
Beach CA, San Juan, etc. Asheville has them all to make much sense or continuity. Maybe I’ll just
beat, hands down. buy another black and white composition book
and fill it up and FedEx it to you. I may send it to
DAY 16 you, Kid Rock, or Willie Nelson. Definitely coffee
I’ll try and get messages soon, including clues of table book fodder. Asheville/Ashereal is scaring
where my journals are buried. the hell out of me. All for good reasons. I think I
discovered how this town became so laid back.
DAY 17
There’s a restaurant near the top of Park Square. DAY 21
I went in to ask them if I could sweep up their You know what a sky jack is? They keep leaving
sidewalk. Trash, cig. butts, condoms, you name the keys in it two blocks from my bridge canvas.
it. I was suffering from my usual OCD: Options, $300 a day to rent one. Three years of my life if
Choices, and Decisions. They must have thought borrow it.

DAY 40
I’m in J.F.K. ADATC in Black Mountain, NC.
I didn’t come to detox or rehab. I came here
because I had an infection in my left leg causing
a lot of pain and a lot of swelling. I was told
to elevate it and use ice packs. When a lady at
Asheville Memorial asked me if I was depressed
and/or needed detox, I said yes to both, thinking

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I’d kick back until they evicted me for not going
to classes. After all, I know everything. I could
teach those classes. I should have remembered
one of my own quotes. “When I was 16, I thought
I knew everything. When I was 32, I learned I had
a lot more to learn. When I turned 48, I realized I
didn’t know shit.”
On day two, they started in on me about
attending classes. I signed a “72.” A “72” means
they had to release me in 72 hours unless a doctor
was willing to swear that I’m a danger to myself in front of me, I started thinking about what I
or others. The next day, a male counselor tried would be eating if I were on the streets. Somehow
to talk me out of leaving. He wanted me to try to that got me thinking about “Quality of Life”
attend class even if I needed to prop up my leg. here in rehab and about quality of life on the
He said if my leg still hurt or got worse, I could streets—which is going to strike on September
get back to bed. Since I was stuck here for at least 29. When rating quality of life, it must be rated on
three days, why not attend? Well, guess what? the here-and-now basis. It also got me thinking
I found out I don’t know everything. There are about housed people’s quality of life vs. homeless
so many kids (18-25) here addicted to heroin, it people’s quality of life. I rated mine, at the
is sad. I thought I had it bad! These kids made moment, at 7. I asked the nurse who was passing
me realize how good I do have it. I’m also using out medications how she would rate her quality of
this time to see how the staff interacts with the life. She gave herself a 4. I wonder what the sum
patients—knowledge that will help me get my of ten housed people would look like compared to
Peer Support Specialist Certification. the sum of ten homeless people.
The need to elevate my leg brought me here. I must have really needed to get off the streets
Serendipity has kept me here. I needed mental for a while. I gained 14 pounds from 144 to 158 in
recovery as well as physical; I just didn’t realize 7 days.
it until I was here 5 or 6 days. That episode in I’ve heard about Black Mountain for years.
Jacksonville scarred my brain. These recurring I first heard about this detox from my alchy
nightmares I’ve had since May 18 have to stop. (alcoholic) friends in Wilmington years ago. They
They have started me on a high blood pressure said it was sweet. Believe me, it is. I’ve heard from
medicine that has a second effect of stopping/ several sources that JFK charges the insurance
blocking dreams and nightmares—at least til I’m companies of those covered $880 a day. I can
going to sit down and talk to a shrink. I saw him believe that. I’ll be charged about a dollar a day.
today, and he said, “You’re the P.T.S.D. guy, right?” Bed, meals, 24 hours medical care, drugs, doctors,
I said yes. This might be an idea for an informal security, and the list goes on.
study. I have no idea at this moment of where I’ll go
This morning as I was staring at my breakfast upon discharge. I may try to stay in this area. I
plate, acknowledging my gratitude for what was may head to Greenville, SC, to a program called

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Turning Point. I’ll let you Google it. settle on thoughts that are not healthy or actually
I want to be more tenacious of my sobriety detrimental. My month here at Black Mountain
this time, I think. I know I’ve got to leave here will be one page in one chapter that I’ll always
sans self-pity. Poor me, poor me, pour me a beer. remember.
That’s what will happen if I don’t.
My homework tonight is, “What’s keeping me DAY 47
from having a relationship from myself?” It’s for Yesterday was a Sunday, and about the only
me and my relapse classes. thing I had to attend was a N.A. meeting. Having
all that free time reminds me that I’ll have a lot
DAY 45 of “free” time when I leave here. There will be a
My next door (next room) neighbor skipped/ big void (vacuum) in my life without rehab and
escaped [the rehab center] the other day. Two alcohol. Nature abhors a vacuum. I’ve found it
other guys have been evicted because of their also applies to my mind. When I’m alone, I’m
sexual innuendos directed at the females in with bad company. I’m going to connect with a
our cafeteria. I wrote a letter to my treatment program called Bridging the Gap. It’s a program
team yesterday morning requesting a one-week offered through AA. It’s put together to help
extension. It was approved. My discharge date ‘newcomers’ make the transition from rehab to
is now set to be on October 6. October 6 also the ‘real world.’ I have to call them at least a week
happens to be my birthday. I’ll be 55. I’ll consider before my discharge. I’m so forgetful, I’ll have to
everything that happens that day to be my write a reminder and tape it to my mirror. I’ll
birthday present, good or bad. My being in rehab- probably forget to do that unless I proof this letter
present. My being discharged from rehab-present. about 20 times.
Me going to some type of living facility-present or I learned about five years ago that I have
me living on the streets again-present. O.C.D. No, not the kind you just thought of. I
If I keep a positive attitude and make gratitude have options, choices, and decisions. Having
lists, I won’t let my mind wander around and let it someone that can function as a wise sounding
board will help me with all three.
We have an apple tree about a hundred feet
from the dorm’s front door. Yesterday, I saw
Sobriety out there munching on the apples that
had already fallen. When our eyes met, they
were sans stink. Just like before when I first rode
Sobriety, I was in a new town with no friends and
no knowledge of what’s out there. Why not trust
Sobriety again? She’s given me no reason not to.
It was my own fault that I got knocked off her in
Jacksonville, May 20. We were galloping along
and I saw a low branch ahead of us. I ducked,
but not low enough. I was swept off Sobriety

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like a golf ball off a tee. I must have landed in something like this. Bridge the Gap, hit a meeting,
a precarious fashion because the extent of my go to LensCrafters to try and get glasses through
injuries was finding that my head was up my ass. their “One Vision” program, if it still exists and
It took about 4 months to begin recovery. On if I still qualify. I’ve done it before, about 4 or 5
September 7, I… That was a part of my “A Horse years ago. I’m about blind.
Called Sobriety.” [Read story on page 14.]
If I had some help from a person who’s familiar
with how to write books, I believe I’d have no
trouble expanding on this theme. Actually, the
first time I fell off Sobriety, I was thirteen years
old. Just suffered a few bumps and bruises. When
I was 26, I was not on Sobriety and nearly lost my
life. Well I did lose it in a certain way. That would
be the longest chapter of the book.
I have a problem that I’d like to address before
leaving [rehab]. I’d bring it up in group therapy
today, but I won’t due to time constrictions.
Whoa, whoa. Karma strikes like a bolt of
lightning!
As I was writing about my problem and DAY 48
expressing it in group, the psychiatrist walked in On my second cup of coffee. About 20 more to
and sat down beside me. We talked nearly half go. I don’t stop the caffeine until I get wired like a
an hour about my recurring nightmares. The talk substation.
was very helpful. I asked him if I could borrow I have Janine, who is responsible for helping
a DSM—Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. It’s figure out where patients can go after discharge,
used by psychiatry professionals to diagnose stepping and fetching. I asked her yesterday if
mental disorders. I told him the DSM was missing I could be discharged to Haywood Hospital.
a whole category. He said, “I wasn’t aware of that, Asheville Memorial – went there three times
what is it?” I told him my picture should be in it. about my knee and leg. One X-ray and two MRI’s
Next to my picture would be a long description later, they diagnosed my leg to be infected and
of the new category of “Gone Feral.” He laughed, started antibiotics, without even taking a culture
but not as much as some other doctors I’ve told from my leg. Went from there directly to Black
that to. He said that I’m not feral now but added Mountain —no insurance—treat’em and street’em.
that feral would have been his diagnosis for me This time, the hospital changed that up a bit. Can’t
when I first arrived. I was not a happy camper. pay, drinker & depressed, we’ll hand him off to
Now I’m just a scared camper. Scared of that next Black Mountain; we’ll even give him a ride there.
low branch. That’s me, afraid of something that I’m not complaining about being here. My
I’m not even sure of it’s existence. concern is my knee. The pain has never dropped
My list of to do’s upon discharge goes below 7, even after 800mg Ibuprofen. My knee

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doesn’t feel “sturdy” if that makes any sense. I to be here and give the program a try. I think the
know I won’t be able to do any manual labor that other 80 percent is composed of court-ordered,
requires a lot of physical exertion. Even when family-ordered users making a “pit stop” to get
I’ve had to walk fast so I wouldn’t be tardy for a energized so they can make another run. Some
class, the pain level goes up to about 12. I don’t here by ultimatum, some homeless and going to
know if I should go to the hospital or directly to a “five-star hotel vacation,” some confused, some
malpractice attorney. check-deserving, some mentally ill…all have a
substance-abuse problem.
DAY 51 When I was moved from detox to rehab, there
Writing letters helps me feel connected, lessens were about 20 of us here. Now we have a full
the loneliness, allows me to vent, and hopefully house of 30 people. We’re about elbow to elbow.
makes someone smile. I don’t want to hear others’ conversations, but it’s
The battle for the top of the pecking order almost unavoidable at times, especially during
continues…One guy got thrown out yesterday community meetings. I’ll try to score some ear
for threatening another patient. It’s down to two plugs today. The negativity is so thick you could
now. They’re both young and cocky. Imagine cut it with a knife. I’ve noticed the negativity is
two 25-year-olds, white, hat bills off center by 45 almost contagious.
degrees, pants hanging low, corn-fed, country, My outdoor environment is fantastic today.
rednecks attempting to out-stupid each other. The air is crisp, clean, and sweet. The mountains
Regardless of who they believe eventually wins, are trying to pierce the clouds. Geese were flying
everyone else here sees them both at the very in a V, honking loudly, flying east actually (to find
bottom of the totem pole. a mountain pass?). Sunflowers and gladiolas near
It’s no wonder the probability of relapse is 80 the door. Squirrels everywhere dropping so many
percent for the people leaving rehab. I’ve been acorns you could use a hard hat just walking to
the gazebo. Newly-mowed lawn reeking fresh
chlorophyll.
Quality of life here and now? It would be 8.5 if
I had a cigarette.

DAY 53
I asked one of the staff if they would pull up the
picture they took when I was admitted. I told her
JFK should give all patients a before and after
pair of photos. She agreed. Now my mission is to
convince administration to incorporate it as S.O.P.
I’ve enclosed my intake photo. My caption is, “Just
another Piece of the Puzzle Looked Down Upon.”
to countless rehabs and detoxes and, though I’m This is probably the most residentially-challenged
not claiming to be an expert, just by observation looking photo of me ever taken that isn’t a mug
it’s easy to see that only 20 percent actually want shot.

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Remember when I said I don’t like usable
things going to the landfill? I was rooting
around our craft closet and discovered some
wallpaper sample books. Seems like someone else
(Recreation Therapy Coordinator?) realized the
mixed media artists’ gold mine hiding between
the corners of these big-ass books. I liked the way
the light reflected, the pattern, and colors of one
sample. Reminded me of holographs. If I had
walls, I’d push pin a piece up on one of them.
I’ve been thinking about what mental benefits
I’ll take with me when I leave rehab. I’ve already
heard all the education information – many
times. This round of rehab, I’ve really looked
deeper and been more mindful of everything
and everyone around me. When it comes to this
rehab, facts, figures, and especially statistics ran whole lot less alone after getting it. Funny thing,
on me like water off a duck’s back, only because because I hadn’t realized that loneliness was even
I am looking for the deepest meaning I can take on my agenda of things I need to work on.
away from here. I’ve found some hiding in plain Bridging the Gap is going to pick me up and
sight: acceptance, honesty, and fear have to be the give me a ride to a meeting. I don’t know what in
top ten. I’ve come to the conclusion that no one the hell I’ll do next. LensCrafters, hospital to find
needs to be an addict to find [that] information out what’s actually wrong with my knee, attorney’s
gained here is very useful, almost required, to live office if not satisfied with hospital treatment, risk
a richer and fuller life. management at the hospital, stashing a bag of
“Realistically, I’m a very abstract person.”— My clothes somewhere, say “Hi!” to Doug – a friend
take on a similar quote that’s attributed to many who oversees Pack Square, and, unfortunately, a
different people, “Superficially, I’m a very deep beer thought will pop in my head. Sad but true.
person.” How I act after that thought is completely up to
The package was a multi-faceted surprise. I me.
was elated to get anything in the mail. I have been In the right here, right now, I’d give that
so disconnected to the outside world, I probably thought about a 30% chance of developing into
would have been glad to receive a hospital bill, so insanity again. Not good odds, I know. I’m really
you can imagine my giddiness when I saw it was going to keep H.A.L.T. at bay…being Hungry,
Speak Up on the return address. I’ll try to get my Angry, Lonely, or Tired is fertilizer for insanity
thoughts and emotions on a timeline. Surprised to grow. Having one [symptom] of HALT is not
to get mail from Speak Up. Shocked (happily) to good. Having two means it’s time to get inside
see my in the magazine. In awe at the $25 paid for myself and think; having three is time to hit the
my article. Very, very pleased to see the words you brakes and call someone; having four…I’ll put it
put in ink. Especially the, “keep sending.” I felt a this way, I’ll go to jail or I’ll die or I’ll end up back

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in another/same mental institution. Never fails. If paralysis in right eye due to damage to the 6th
I let all four happen, it’s on. optic nerve. And most of all, I need to find out
Addiction’s a bitch. It’s like walking around what’s really wrong with my left knee. If I walk
always knowing, feeling, sensing death that’s as fast, it feels like someone’s wiggling an ice pick
close to you as your own shadow. under my kneecap. I don’t walk fast.
There is no sense in moving into a halfway
house if I am unable to work [or do] physical
labor. I need to get my Career Readiness
Certificate sent to me from Goldsboro before
attempting to get a job from a company not
requiring grunt work. I was one point away
from receiving a platinum certificate. I only
took the test to satisfy a company in Goldsboro.
They didn’t care if I got a bronze, silver, gold, or
platinum. They just wanted to see if I could get
one. Maybe I should add it to my curriculum
vitae. Maybe one day I’ll hang it on my bragging
wall. Ha ha.
So as it stands right now, I’ll be sleeping rough
again. For the time being at least. I’ll get glasses,
my C.R.C. and hopefully my leg fixed.
I will be on my Chromebook by Thursday
evening. Maybe I’ll send you before and after
photos of me. I obtained a copy of the one
taken upon admission. I’ll do a selfie for your
comparison. You’re going to be amazed at the
DAY 63 difference. Too bad you won’t see the 24 pounds I
Outside, picnic table, 8:30am, not a cloud in the put on. I don’t do belly selfies.
sky, country pop in the background, guys playing
corn hole, and sun warming my back. The air DAY 64
is sweet, and the mountains seem to grow taller Asheville again. Just went to the courthouse to
every day. check on my court date status. Shortly after I got
My counselor was the one to suggest another here initially, I set out to break any records for
week’s extension; not for more work on my getting the most tickets in the shortest amount of
addiction but to try and confirm some type time. I got six tickets in eleven days.
of housing—to fill in that blank place on my
discharge summary. Guess what? It’s blank and DAY 65
will probably remain so. Also need glasses. 20/60 Walk a mile in my shoes and you’ll want yours
in one, 20/80 in the other. Add to that partial back after the first ten steps.

Page 11

about correcting some of the things that leave me
in tears? That’s what I’m going to do tomorrow
morning.

DAY 76
morning
The parking lot where I have my tent was beside a
vacant building. I was shocked to see a roll-away
DAY 71 dumpster being delivered on the lot at 7:00 this
I have not been in handcuffs lately. Not even morning. Apparently they are getting ready to
collecting tickets. renovate the building. I explained to a worker
Life was not looking too good this morning. exiting the building that the tent was a temporary
But I can always put a positive spin on things. thing and was planning to try and get a bed at the
rescue mission. He said it was OK. He didn’t tell
DAY 72 me if he was the owner, contractor, or laborer. I
Not sure where I am mentally. Woke up not sure don’t even know if my tent is still there right now.
about life being worth the pain. This has gone I went to the day center to check on housing,
on for a few days now. I just feel loneliness. I’m address for me to use, and other needed help.
attempting to flush self pity and toxic shame. I They told me public housing could be as much as
almost walked up to the hospital this morning a year and a half away. They warned me at Black
with a request to be jabbed with Thorazine. I Mountain that the Rescue Mission is BAD. I was
think it’s just the fact I felt so alive and vibrant a told at day center that the rescue mission requires
little over a week ago and now the pain. I’ve let guests to be in at 4:30 PM and then guests are
myself down. I have no one to blame but me. I required to attend church service every evening
know where the pain originates and yet I keep before going to bed. I’m about to explore other
pouring in the poison. Maybe it’s time for me to options and will write back very soon.
stop.
evening
DAY 74 I went down to check the status of my tent and
What if I tired of sleeping in a tent and shivering belongings about noon today. A Mexican guy
all night? What if I wished I had on clean pants, asked me what I was doing back there. I told him
shirt, and I don’t even want to think about socks? about this morning’s scare, and he said it was
What if I decided to get something to eat? It’s OK with him about my leaving a tent there. We
only been about 7 days since I ate. What if I had a talked for awhile, and I asked him if he needed
toothbrush? What if I had glasses? I mean 20/60 any help with the demolition work. He told me
in one and 20/80 in the other. What if I had a he would work me Thursday at 8AM. He said he
friend to talk to? What if I wasn’t swimming in may have some work for me tomorrow, but he
self anger? And self pity. wasn’t sure. If he likes my work, he said he has
What if I got off my butt and did something jobs coming up all over Asheville. I’m going to

Page 12

walk down and make sure the tent is still there, doing now. If the job doesn’t work out, who
just in case. I’ll let you know how it turns out. I knows? That tent scene is really getting old—and
can see myself needing boots and gloves if this scary, even for me.
pans out. Real work is a possibility! Keeping my
fingers crossed. DAY 80
I’ve gone to the Starvation Army twice now.
This time they told me to come back Monday at
noon to see the manager. Been sober for about
three days now. Gaining strength like crazy. My
appetite is back and in full force.
Still sleeping on cardboard behind a tree at
one of the churches. It’s not as bad as some of
the places I’ve slept. I’ve been told the weather
is unseasonably warm. It’s been dry and no rain
is in sight. I’m lonely right now. The guy I know
from rehab is gone for the weekend so I don’t
really have anyone to talk to that really knows
me. I guess it’s mostly self pity talking. It seems
everywhere I look, someone has someone else.
DAY 77 I’ll get over it.
morning
This is my second day without drinking a drop of DAY 83
alcohol. I’d been weaning myself off of it for a few I found $100 cash while walking the sidewalks
days. I thought I’d have a little more strength by this morning looking for ducks. One hundred
now or at least an appetite, no such luck. I forced dollars in front of a trash can waiting for the
down a cheeseburger yesterday and ate half an perfect timing for me to walk upon it. A minute
Italian sandwich today. When my nerves get shot or two earlier or a minute or two later, and it
I don’t get hungry. I’d hate to fizzle out in the first would have been someone else’s. So far, I’ve been
few hours of a job. Basically, I’m just trying to stay a good steward of it. I’ve tried to pay back favors
hydrated with lots of water. that others have done for me and continue to
spread the love. Pay it forward.
evening
I didn’t work today but hope to do so in the
morning. If this job can become a steady gig,
meaning if my knee and hernia hold up, I’m going
to try to get a bed at the Asheville “Starvation
Army.” The first two weeks are free then 60 bucks
a week thereafter. I’d like to get enough work
to save up $120.00 so I will have a solid month’s
structure to strengthen my sober webwork I’m

Page 13

DAY 86
The rain at two o’clock this morning caught me by
surprise. Fortunately, it stopped about 45 minutes
later. I still got a little wet. Suppose to get down
to 38 tonight. My little lightweight blankets aren’t
going to cut it. If the Salvation Army doesn’t have
a bed tonight, I guess I’m in for some shivers. My
lady friend still hasn’t emailed me. She said she
has a sleeping bag for me. I may go down to the
River Arts District and try to find out where she
works. I’ll probably ask her to adopt me for a day
or two. I could really use the rest and a shower.

DAY 90
I’m still under a holly tree at the church. Been
checking like twice a day at Salvation Army for
a bed. I was told by a gentleman at the veteran’s DAY 93
shelter today that the housing possibilities Nov 11, 2016
in Asheville are abysmal. People all over the I’m in dire straits. It’s supposed to get down to 28
sidewalks in sleeping bags early in the morning. tomorrow night. I’ve been trying to get a blanket
I’m going to try and contact Sober Living and or sleeping bag from local resource centers,
America in Charlotte. From what I’ve been told with no luck. I’ve been told when the cold starts
at rehab is that you can’t reserve a bed. Just show to set in, those resources are hard to come by.
up and see what’s available.
I finally got an appointment for an eye
examination and glasses at LensCrafters
tomorrow at 3PM. I had to jump through more THE END FOR NOW.
hoops than a circus cat to get that accomplished.
I have a court date this Thursday to answer
the charge of blocking a sidewalk when I was
writing in my journal. I may end up asking for a
continuance and requesting a “public pretender”
to represent me. That may have them rethinking
the possibility for a dismissal.

DAY 91
I can’t keep roughing it, at least in this weather.

Page 14

A Horse Named
Sobriety

By Vince Shumate

On October 10, 2014, a trusted and close friend gave
me a horse. I didn’t know why because they knew
I didn’t really trust or like horses. This horse was
known as Sobriety. For five days straight, this horse
and I gave each other the stink eye. I planned on
getting rid of him as soon as I could find a socially-
acceptable reason for his departure.
On the 6th day, I was transferred to another city
hundreds of miles away. I left Sobriety in Wilmington
to fend for self. Somehow, that damn horse beat me
to Goldsboro. I spent 9 days at work., 24 hours a day,
hoping that when I exited the building that Sobriety
would have gotten bored with his new owner and
found somewhere else to go.
No such luck. There he was at the door but with a
little less stink in his eye. I got a ride to my new home
with a co-worker hoping and wishing we could lose
Sobriety. He beat us there. The next morning he was
standing beside the stoop when I went out to the
front porch.

__

Thanks for reading.

You can reach Vince by emailing Speak Up.

Page 15

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