the great leslie

I am staying in my brother's dorm room while he is in South America and my apartment is inhabited by subletters. Actually, it's only for one more night, then I go away for two weeks. I went to go to sleep the first night of my stay and was shocked to learn about a rather dire pillow deficiency. There was only one pancake pillow! As I tried to fall asleep, I vowed to get him a new one.

I went to KMart the next day and got him (read: me) a nice fluffy, Martha Stewart-endorsed head rest. As I was leaving Penn Station, headed for the train, I saw an old homeless woman I know from my days working at Chambers Street. She is bent over and gray-haired. She was walking, not asking for money. I turned around and spoke to her.

"Hi. We've met before, when I worked downtown. I thought you might like this, for Christmas. Merry Christmas." I gave her five dollars. Last year at this time I gave her $2 and a Starbucks gift card worth $5. I can't tell which is the better gift.