Learning Lessons/ Boo Radley

The Boo Radley in my life was a homeless lady I met at the shelter. It was my first time volunteering at a woman’s shelter. When I started I was more than a little apprehensive because of all the scary stories about creepy homeless people. But when they started arriving I was overwhelmed with compassion. I was helping this one woman roll out her blanquettes when she suddenly started crying. She told me that she had not always been on the streets. She had once had a beautiful home and an enchanting little girl. The woman then went along to tell me that her daughter had gotten cancer and had died after a long struggle to survive. Soon after her daughter’s death the woman’s husband slowly became crazy with grief. It wasn’t soon before this became evident to the woman; she tried to get her husband some help. But when she talked to him about it he pulled out a gun and tried to shoot himself and her. Her husband said it was the only way for them to be together with their little girl. For this reason the woman had to leave the house very fast. She didn’t even have time to pack any money or clothing. This is why she was on the streets. After hearing this I was about in tears and overcome with guilt. Not all homeless people were alcoholics and drug addicts, but people who had overcome tragic events; people who had come across a little bump in a road. This woman had taught me more than she could ever repay, and was my Boo Radley.