The Blanket In The Dug-Out

--by SmileADay, posted Mar 8, 2013

In my new position as manager of parks and recreation in a small California mountain town I have the great privilege of being able to visit parks and playgrounds as part of my job responsibilities.

A month or so ago, on a cold autumn morning, I walked through a ball park near my office. In the dug-out I noticed some trash and an old blanket which I picked up and carried toward the trash bin. As I lifted the blanket to dispose of it I caught a whiff ... and it occurred to me that it was being used, probably by a homeless person. I stopped, thought about it, and reluctantly returned the blanket to the dug-out.

Over the next couple of weeks I would pop my head into the dug-out. The blanket was always there, always in a different place. As our maintenance men were in the park often I assumed that they too left the blanket.

A couple of weeks ago I checked again. This time I found the blanket wrapped tightly around a figure lying on the dirt floor of the dug-out. There were empty shoes nearby. The figure didn't stir.

I ran over to the office, grabbed a small bag and filled it with some items from my lunch, a bottle of water from the office fridge, and a few other healthy snacks I found. I tiptoed back into the dug-out and silently left the lunch-bag next to the empty shoes.

Last week, I discovered the sleeping person again. This time I went to the office and, inspired by Helpothers, I found a card and wrote inside it, "Have a nice day!" Then I emptied my wallet into the envelope. I snuck back to the dug-out and left the card next to the cast-aside shoes.

2197 Reads

Posted by SmileADay
Mar 8, 2013
Comments (5)

Readers Comments

FairyBubbles wrote: That is a tender story, you have touched my heart.

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: That is very nice of you, thanks for caring! :)

jsmc10 wrote: this was so nice of you, thank you for sharing :)

Pumla wrote: Wow this is a wonderful story. May you be blessed.

annjav wrote: That's a very inspiring and caring thing to do. Thank you for telling us all about it. I wish your lodger well.

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