The restaurant was filled up by the time I got in. Every table and seats around them were occupied. From the surface, it looked like any normal eatery but upon closer inspection, segregation was quite apparent. A section of the diners seemed cast off at a certain corner though it didn’t appear to bother them in the least. They were about twice a dozen in number and their table was filled with all kind of delicious delicacies. They were dressed eloquently in decent power suits and they appeared quite young, not mentioning that they ate like they just time-travelled from an eighteenth century family of royals. They were filthy rich, that much I figured out. I started wondering if they would finish the meal presented before them at that slow eating rate.

The atmosphere was lively but no one dared to get close to their space, not even stare at them which I was abundantly doing right now. Compared to all other diners in the eatery, I was dressed like a hobo. I caught the reflection of my form by the window and I have never felt so embarrassed about my appearance. Even though I didn’t have any money on me, I still patted my pockets hoping to find some loose change inside there. I heaved desperately when I felt nothing. My stomach growled again so loudly that it captured the attention of a nearby couple. They eyeballed me bizarrely almost in a fascinated kind of way before they sniggered to themselves.

Desperate times called for desperate measures. I tucked in my dignity and approached them, my face growing redder with every step I took. They ignored the fact that I was approaching them until I cleared my throat when I was directly in front of them. The lady scrunched up her nose in disgust. I knew I looked dirty but that was just the color of my clothes. They were dirt brown but clean and I also knew I didn’t smell, I showered before coming. Her actions were a bit exaggerated.

“ Can I help you?” the man asked

“ I…I “ I stuttered, trying to gather enough courage to beg for some food “ would you maybe have some spare…”

He scoffed then turned back to his girlfriend

“ Seriously, I’m gonna puke” the lady whispered while covering the side of her face

I pretended not to have heard that

“ Let’s get out of here” the man suddenly stood up. He hurriedly left with his girlfriend after handing a nearby waiter a couple of dollar notes.

Works for me, I shrugged. Like a ravenous beast, I started taking the barely touched food stuff they had ordered, filling it in my bag. I largely ignored the strange eyes everyone in the restaurant was giving me.

“ What are you doing?” a voice stopped me on my tracks

I paused then turned to one male waiter who had his hands akimbo

“ I’m just packing some food, doesn’t it seem obvious”

“ Do you have money to pay for it?” he asked

I gulped “ they…they paid for it already”

“ Hand over the bag” he said sternly

“ What? Seriously?” I scoffed then looked around “ are you seriously gonna embarrass me in front of all these guys?” I whispered

He reached for my bag

“ You were gonna throw it out anyway” I protested

“ Then you’ll get it from the dumpsite” he retorted as he emptied the contents on a bucket

“ come on…” I sighed

“ Can you please get out of the restaurant, you are affecting our customers”

“ Affecting?” I threw my head back in shock “ I’m also a customer”

“ You are in the wrong place”

“ Where is the right place then? I’m hungry and I’m in a restaurant”

“ Biggie here will show you” he said then walked away. I only had a second to figure out who Biggie was before one large and callused hand grabbed my shoulder. I was easily lifted off the ground and thrown outside, beside a certain  stinking food dumpsite. I landed with a loud thump which startled a family of rats and one emaciated dog.  Good heavens, the rats were so fat and well fed. I was getting my bearings right when a raccoon shot from inside the dumpsite making me jump up stunned, a fat raccoon. I was almost feeling jealous.

I wouldn’t last a week, the words from the admissions officer rung in my mind repeatedly as if taunting me. Back at the correctional facility at this time would be dinner then bed, things I gladly left to start a new life.  I was determined to prove him wrong though so I still got up and entered an adjoining freeway.

The road would lead me to my home, at least what was left of it anyway.

Three large SUVs and one racing car whizzed by me after some minutes. I gazed in awe at their grandeur and magnificence, deeply wishing that I had a motorcycle or a bicycle at least. I was utterly surprised when the race car hit the brakes a couple of meters away from me. The car reversed slowly, it’s rear lights flashing in my eyes until it stopped beside me. Just standing close to the car made me feel warm, I longed for it to just stand there for an hour longer.

The tinted window was slightly lowered before one large bag was dropped from it. The car raced away before I got the chance to make inquiries. I didn’t have to look inside the bag to know that it was food. The scent of roasted meat was intense, so intense that my stomach growled again. My ravenous and beastly appetite took charge of my body the next instance.

It’s been a robust three years and never had I ever eaten something as tasty as this meal. Though it was enough for three, I finished the whole thing in under ten minutes. I didn’t even realize that I had sat by the roadside as I ate until the moment decency finally got back in my body. Embarrassedly, I got up and continued walking towards my home, inwardly thanking the kind stranger who gave me food.