Rain wanted to use that name because he said he is part native and wants to honor his people... who went through a lot just like he did, he says...
Right now, he is staying with a cousin... sleeping on the couch when he can or in a bed if there is room, he tells me. "You never know who is gonna be in the bed, so you gotta be careful," he laughs. "People like to get with me..."
I don't ask what he means.
"Hey, so tell me what it is like to be homeless in Chicago," I tell him.
He answers, "Well, I grew up in Wisconsin and came here to party a couple times when I was supposed to be doing my homework on weekends. Later, when it was time for college, I already messed up so much that I did not get into college. So I just got part-time jobs doing sh*t like flippin' the famous burgers... hung out with some cute chicks and some crazy guys. There were lots of parties and everybody had drugs."
I ask him how long he has been homeless and if he is looking at some ways to get his own place.
He responds he has been unroofed for "give or take 10 years."
I tell him that is a long time. I tell him his story might help other guys deal with being homeless. Might help them to see other dudes go through the same kinds of things. I often tell people I interview their story is important and people need to learn about homelessness.
He takes a sip of his coffee and looks at me. "What else do you need to know?" he asks.
I tell him that he can tell me whatever he wants. "Tell me what some of the bad things are."
He looks around, then sits forward so he can speak more confidentially,
"The bad things are like having to steal so much sh*t to survive... stealing sh*t to sell and stealing sh*t to use... it's hard to get cigarettes and beer, so you sometimes have to trade to get that kinda stuff. I might steal some bags of potato chips and some bags of cookies... people will always buy them on the street or on the train. You get $5 or $10 and you are set. You can buy a couple squares [cigarettes] on the train and later maybe buy a beer at 7-11 for a couple bucks. You are set. For food, you gotta hang out where people have a lot of money... like people coming home at night and getting off the train. You just tell people you're hungry and they give you money. You sometimes get lucky and get $20 and buy your buddies a burger too, haha!"
I lean forward and ask, "So you would rather not steal the stuff to smoke it or to sell it. It is better if people just give you money and you can buy what you need that way?"
He agrees,
"Steal stuff at the wrong store, and you can get your ass kicked pretty bad but not at a place like Jewel. They might chase you, but they won't do anything to you. Walgreens is super easy! You can just take a bunch of stuff and they don't even say anything. They might call the police--who don't come and who don't care. But if you go to a little liquor store or a mom-pop store you can get three guys chasing you and they will beat the sh*t out of you if nobody's looking! They will hold you down and take turns tromping on you, kicking you in the ribs, kicking you in the balls... you have to be desperate to do something stupid like steal sh*t in a little store. And stupid as hell!"
I also ask him, "Do you have a job right now? How are you making it?"
He replies, "Well, no, I am looking for some jobs and trying to do some other stuff part-time to make money... I know some guys and sometimes I will help them sell stuff they stole. You know, gotta keep the economy going."
"Okay, well so what kind of job are you looking for?" I ask.
He replies to that, "Well I really deserve to do something more than making fast food--which I hate anyway--and so I am gonna keep looking for maybe like working in a bank or a store and maybe wearing a tie to work! That would rock! I love wearing cool clothes and looking good. Then there would be less chance I would get in fights at my job. I get in a lot of fights so I could relax more if I had a job without any fights."
"What do you fight about at work?" I inquire.
"I usually get called names or somebody doesn't like me," he explains.
I take the conversation down a different path. How many hours a week do you want to work?
He thinks about for a minute, and says, "About half time. that way, I can still party and live life. I am not married and do not want to tie myself down at all."
So I ask him, "Okay so being homeless is okay if you know where the parties are?"
He looks at me... then he says, "Well, not really but it's what it is right now" (or similar response under his breath).
"What advice would you give to somebody who is all of the sudden homeless?" I ask.
"First, if you are White like me, you should get some Black friends right away. That way, if there is a fight or some other bullsh*t, you can call somebody for help. Most homeless dudes are Black, so you gotta be ready to get along with people. If you're Black, most people will leave you pretty much alone... but it's harder to get money. If you're White and you look cute, you can get money by the train and say things like, 'Some Black dude stole my phone and I need to call my mother!' or other sh*t like that and then they feel so bad little Danny is in touble hahaha!"
"Hmm so it comes down to Black and White. Do you get a lot of money from people?" I ask him.
"Yeah, of course, I have all kinds of sh*t I say. I keep it all quiet and tell them I am in trouble and somebody stole my wallet and I have $50 in no time! I can get weed, beer, cigarettes, pizza... you name it! And if I have extra money or pizza, I share it so other dudes will have my back."
I tell him, "Well, it sounds like you have a lot of good skills for getting money and food and other things you need. You will be great at a job in a store!"
He nods his head, "Yeah, pretty soon."
I tell him, "I'm going to buy you dinner for telling me your story. Whopper Meal? That's what I am getting..."
"Yeah, that's cool man," he responds. "And I want the big-a*s fries..."
And so another story will be told... to help new homeless guys... and to inform the world about the world of work for the unroofed.